Method and apparatus for augmented reality display of digital content associated with a location

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for display of digital content associated with a location in a radio transmission area. A user interface is generated with a digital representation of energy levels received into an energy receiving sensor, such as a CCD or CMOS sensor. The user interface includes interactive portions based upon positions in the radio transmission area. The interactive portions may be activated to display the digital content in a user interface.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Non Provisional U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/410,526, filed Aug. 24, 2021 and entitled METHODAND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAY OF DIGITAL CONTENT ASSOCIATED WITH A LOCATIONIN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AREA, the Non Provisional U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/951,550, filed Nov. 18, 2020 and entitled METHODAND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTING WITH A TAG IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONAREA; Non Provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/900,753, filedJun. 12, 2020, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED SITEAUGMENTATION, and to Non Provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/504,919, filed Jul. 8, 2019 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORPOSITION BASED QUERY WITH AUGMENTED REALITY HEADGEAR, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This applicationreferences the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/688,775,filed Nov. 19, 2019 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESSDETERMINATION OF POSITION AND ORIENTATION OF A SMART DEVICE the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This applicationreferences the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/503,878,filed Jul. 5, 2019 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCEDAUTOMATED WIRELESS ORIENTEERING, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference. This application references the NonProvisional patent application Ser. No. 16/297,383, filed Jul. 5, 2019and entitled SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING A SERVICE CALL WITH ORIENTEERING, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication references the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No.16/249,574, filed Jan. 16, 2019 and entitled ORIENTEERING SYSTEM FORRESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY IN A STRUCTURE, the entire contents of whichare hereby incorporated by reference. This application references theNon Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/176,002, filed Oct. 31,2018 and entitled SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING A SERVICE CALL WITHORIENTEERING, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference. This application references the Non Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/171,593, filed Oct. 26, 2018 and entitled SYSTEMFOR HIERARCHICAL ACTIONS BASED UPON MONITORED BUILDING CONDITIONS, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication references the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No.16/165,517, filed Oct. 19, 2018 and entitled BUILDING VITAL CONDITIONSMONITORING, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference. This application references the Non Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/161,823, filed Oct. 16, 2018 and entitledBUILDING MODEL WITH CAPTURE OF AS BUILT FEATURES AND EXPERIENTIAL DATA,the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication references the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No.16/142,275, filed Sep. 26, 2018 and entitled METHODS AND APPARATUS FORORIENTEERING, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference. This application references the Non Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/887,637, filed Feb. 2, 2018 and entitledBUILDING MODEL WITH CAPTURE OF AS BUILT FEATURES AND EXPERIENTIAL DATA,the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication references the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No.15/716,53, filed Sep. 26, 2017 and entitled BUILDING MODEL WITH VIRTUALCAPTURE OF AS BUILT FEATURES AND OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE TRACKING, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication references the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No.15/703,310, filed Sep. 5, 2017 and entitled BUILDING MODEL WITH VIRTUALCAPTURE OF AS BUILT FEATURES AND OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE TRACKING, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication references the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No.16/528,104, filed Jul. 31, 2019 and entitled SMART CONSTRUCTION WITHAUTOMATED DETECTION OF ADVERSE STRUCTURE CONDITIONS AND REMEDIATION, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication references the Non-Provisional U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/657,660, filed Oct. 18, 2019 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF CONNECTED INFRASTRUCTURE, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This applicationreferences the Non-Provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/721,906, filed Dec. 19, 2019 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORWIRELESS DETERMINATION OF POSITION AND ORIENTATION OF A SMART DEVICE,the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication references the Non Provisional patent application Ser. No.16/549,503, filed Aug. 23, 2019 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORAUGMENTED VIRTUAL MODELS AND ORIENTEERING, the entire contents of whichare hereby incorporated by reference. This application references theNon Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/775,223, filed Jan. 28,2020 and entitled SPATIAL SELF-VERIFYING ARRAY OF NODES, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to augmentation of a physical local. Morespecifically, the present invention joins a physical area with digitalcontent and virtual capabilities. The virtual capabilities allow fortracking of items and/or people in real time and also memorializescontent that may be presented to a user at any time subsequent to thememorialization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of smart devices has become a daily part of life for manypeople. A smart device may be used as a communication tool and toreceive information. Communication is generally point to point basis,and sometimes on a point to many points basis. Information disseminationto unknown recipients, or to recipients that are not ascertainable at atime of generation of the information, requires posting, or storing ofthe information in a centralized server where the information may beretrieved using traditional queries and search engines, such as Googleor social media.

However, it is difficult, if not impossible to automatically receiveinformation pertinent to a designated area. And it is especiallydifficult to receive information related to a subject area when a userdoes not know what to ask for, or what type of information may beavailable to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention combines methods and apparatus forproviding content to a user based upon a geospatial position of the userand a direction of interest provided by the user. Based upon who the useis, where the user is, and which direction the user is looking, thepresent invention will provide an interactive user interface thatcombines quantification of an immediate environment with virtualcontent. Simply by directing a Smart Device towards an area, the presentinvention is able to generate a virtual environment that combines arendition of the physical environment with location specificinformation.

For example, a Node may be co-located with a sensor and wireless providecoordinates indicating where the sensor is located. The sensorquantifies a condition at a specific location. When a user views thephysical area containing the sensor with the Smart Device, the SmartDevice displays a rendition of the area with the sensor location and theconditions measured by the sensor.

Essentially, the present invention enables point and query (or ask andquery) access to information or other content close to a Smart Device.The Smart Device may be used to generate an interface indicating whatpeople, equipment, vehicles or other items are viewable to the SmartDevice and place those items into the context of the environmentsurrounding the Smart Device.

This functionality is accomplished by establishing a target area anddetermining which tags are present within the target area. Tags may bevirtual; in which case the virtual tags are associated with positionalcoordinates and viewable whenever a target area is designated toencompass the coordinates the virtual tag.

Alternatively, the tags may be physical, such as a small disk adhered toan item of equipment, vehicle or a person's employee badge. Tracking ofa position and content associated a physical tag may be updated in realtime or on a periodic basis. Physical tags may be moved into a targetarea or the target area may be moved to encompass the physical tag. Thepresent invention will automatically generate an interface indicatingwhich tags contained in the interface, what those tags are associatedwith and where a tag is in relation to the Smart Device. It will alsoaccess any information that has been stored and associated with the tagand present int on the Smart Device.

By aligning real world and virtual world content, a real-world siteexperience is enriched with content from a geospatially linked virtualworld. The virtual world content is made available to an Agent basedupon a position and a direction of a Radio Target Area (“RTA”) specifiedby a Smart Device supported by the Agent. A geospatial position anddirection of interest that is contained within the RTA is generatedusing wireless communication with reference point transmitters. Wirelesscommunication capabilities of the Reference Point Transmitters determineparameters associated with a Wireless Communication Area (“WCA”). TheRTA is a subset of the WCA.

The present invention provides for methods and apparatus for executingmethods that augment a physical area, such as an area designate as awireless communication area. The method may include the steps oftransceiving a wireless communication between a Smart Device andmultiple reference point transceivers fixedly located at a positionwithin a wireless communication area; generating positional coordinatesfor the Smart Device based upon the wireless communication between theSmart Device and the multiple reference transceivers; establishing aradio target area for an energy receiving sensor; receiving energy intothe energy receiving sensor from the radio target area; generating adigital representation of the energy received into the energy receivingsensor at an instance in time; generating positional coordinates for atag at the instance in time, the tag comprising digital content andaccess rights to the digital content; determining the tag is locatedwithin the radio target area based upon the positional coordinates forthe tag; generating a user interactive interface comprising staticportions based upon the digital representation of the energy receivedinto the energy receiving sensor; generating a dynamic portion of theuser interactive interface based upon the positional coordinates for thetag and the positional coordinates for the Smart Device; receiving auser input into the dynamic portion of the user interactive interface;and based upon the user input received into the dynamic portion of theuser interactive interface, including the digital content in the userinteractive interface.

In some embodiments, multiple disparate energy levels may be receivedinto the energy receiving sensor at the instance in time, each disparateenergy level received from a different geospatial location; associatingpositional coordinates with the disparate energy levels; and indicatingthe disparate energy levels and relative positions of the disparateenergy levels in the user interactive interface. A tag may include avirtual tag with the digital content and a location identified viapositional coordinates.

In another aspect, a physical tag may include a transceiver capable ofwireless communication with the multiple reference transceivers and themethod may include transceiving a wireless communication between a tagand multiple reference point transceivers; and generating positionalcoordinates for the tag based upon the wireless communication betweenthe tag and the multiple reference transceivers. The wirelesscommunication between the Smart Device and the multiple reference pointtransceivers may be accomplished by transceiving using an Ultra Widebandmodality; Bluetooth modality, or other wireless modality, such as WiFi.

A wireless communication area may be identified as including a radiotransmission area of the energy receiving sensor and the wirelesscommunication area may be based upon a communication distance of theUltra Wideband modality in an area encompassing the energy receivingsensor.

Transceiving a wireless communication between a tag and multiplereference point transceivers may be accomplished using w wirelessmodality such as, for example, a UWB or Bluetooth modality; andgenerating positional coordinates for the tag based upon the wirelesscommunication between the tag and the multiple reference transceiversmay be accomplished using the same modalities. Positional coordinatesmay include one or more of: Cartesian Coordinates, an angle of arrivaland an angle of departure and a distance.

In another aspect, access rights to tag content may be required andbased upon an identifier of the Smart Device or a user operating theSmart Device. A dynamic portion of the user interactive interface mayinclude an icon indicative of the digital content associated with thetag.

The details of one or more examples of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. The accompanyingdrawings that are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification illustrate several examples of the invention and, togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the description, drawings, and claims herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention:

FIG. 1 illustrates location determination with wireless communication toreference points.

FIG. 2 illustrates locations aspects with sonic location.

FIG. 3 illustrates methods of orienteering by device movement.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate exemplary configurations of antenna arrays.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary Smart Device with an array of antennas.

FIG. 5B illustrates exemplary methods of indicating directions withSmart Devices and antenna arrays.

FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary method of a user utilizing an orientedstereoscopic sensor system to orient a direction of interest.

FIG. 6 illustrates apparatus that may be used to implement aspects ofthe present disclosure including executable software.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary handheld device that may be used toimplement aspects of the present disclosure including executablesoftware.

FIGS. 8A-8G illustrate aspects of the determination of directions ofinterest and Fields of View and information display.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate additional aspects of information display.

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrates an exemplary method for generating anaugmented-reality Radio Target Area for a Smart Device.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary database structure according to theinstant specification.

FIG. 12 illustrates additional exemplary method for displaying RadioTarget Areas with Smart Devices.

FIG. 13 illustrate exemplary aspects of Wireless Communication Areas inRadio Target Area display.

FIG. 14 illustrates a set of polygons generated via LIDAR that may beused for geospatial recognition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for determiningthe existence of and displaying real-world and aligned virtual-worldcontent.

In the following sections, detailed descriptions of examples and methodsof the invention will be given. The description of both preferred andalternative examples though thorough are exemplary only, and it isunderstood that, to those skilled in the art, variations, modificationsand alterations may be apparent. It is therefore to be understood thatthe examples do not limit the broadness of the aspects of the underlyinginvention as defined by the claims.

In some embodiments, the location of a Node, may be determined viadiscernment of a physical artifact, such as, for example a visuallydiscernable feature, shape or printed aspect. A pattern on a surface mayconvey a reference point by a suitable shape such as a cross, Vernier orbox structure as non-limiting examples. The printing may also includeidentification information, bar codes or lists of location coordinatesdirectly. A Smart Device ascertaining a physical reference mark and adistance of the Smart Device to the mark may determine a relativelocation in space to a coordinate system of the marks.

Marks tied to a geospatial coordinate system may be utilized todetermine a relative location. A number of methods may be executed todetermine a distance from the Smart Device to a mark such as, forexample, a sensed reflection of light beams (preferably laser beams),electromagnetic beams of wavelength outside of the visible band such asIR, UV, radio and the like, or sound-based emanations. It may beimportant that the means of determining the distance can be focused intoa relatively small size. It may be important that the means ofdetermining the distance is reflected by the physical mark. For example,a light-source means of determining the distance may benefit from amirror surface upon the physical mark, and it may be important that thereflected signal emerges significantly towards the user. It may bedesirable that the physical reference points are placed with highaccuracy at specific reference locations, or it may be desirable to beable to measure with high accuracy the specific reference locationsafter placement.

In some examples, a carefully placed reference point Node may functionas a transceiver of signals. For example, a Node may receive andtransmit signals in a radio frequency band of the electromagneticspectrum. In a simple form, a Node may detect an incoming signal andbroadcast a radio frequency wireless communication. Frequencies utilizedfor wireless communication may include those within the electromagneticspectrum radio frequencies used in UWB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth modalities,as well as IR, visible and UV light as examples.

In some embodiments, sound emanations may also be used as acommunication mechanism between a Smart Device and a reference pointNode. In some examples, the Nodes may function to communicate data withtheir electromagnetic or sonic transmissions. Such communications mayprovide identifying information unique to the Node, data related to thesynchronization of timing at different well-located reference points andmay also function as general data communication Nodes. A triangulationcalculation of the position of a Smart Device or a Node may result froma system of multiple reference position Nodes communicating timingsignals to or from the Smart Device or Node. Methods of calculatingpositions via wireless communications may include one or more of: RTT,RSSI, AoD, AoA, timing signal differential and the like. Triangulationor other mathematical techniques may also be employed in determining alocation.

The process of determination of a position based upon triangulation withthe reference points may be accomplished, for example via executablesoftware interacting with the controller in a Smart Device, such as, forexample via running an app on the Smart Device.

Reference points may be coded via identifiers, such as a UUID(Universally Unique Identifier), or other identification vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 1, aspects of a system for enhanced wirelessposition and orientation are illustrated. Reference Point Transceivers101-104 are shown deployed within or proximate to a Structure 106, todetermine a location 107 of a Transceiver 105 supported an Agent 100within or proximate to the Structure 106. Reference Point Transceivers101-104 may be fixed in a certain location within or proximate to theStructure 106 and define a wireless communication area 111. TheReference Point Transceivers 101-104 may transceive in a manner suitablefor determination of a position of one or more Transceivers 105supported by an Agent 100, such as, for example, a Transceiver 105 in orassociated with a Smart Device, headgear or Tag supported by the Agent100. Transceiving may be conducted via one or more wireless transmissionmodalities between a portable Transceiver 105 supported by the Agent 100and one or more Reference Point Transceivers 101-104.

By way of non-limiting example, Transceivers 105 supported by the Agent100 may be included in, and/or be in logical communication with, a SmartDevice, such as a smart phone, tablet, headgear, ring, watch, wand,pointer, badge, Tag, Node or other Agent supportable device withportable Transceiver 105 able to transceive with the Reference PointTransceivers 101-104.

The Reference Point Transceivers 101-104 may include devices, such as,for example, a radio transmitter, radio receiver, a light generator, alight receiver, a pattern recognizing device. A radio frequencytransceiver may transmitters and receivers operative to communicate viawireless modalities such as, for example: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,Ultra-wideband (“UWB”), ultrasonic, infrared, or other communicationmodality capable of logical communication between Transceivers 101-105.

In some embodiments, a Reference Point Transceivers 101-104 may includea multi-modality transceiver, that communicates more locally via a firstmodality, such as UWB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ANT, Zigbee. BLE. Z Wave,6LoWPAN, Thread, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi-ah, NFC (near field communications), Dash7, Wireless HART or similar modality and to a greater distance via asecond modality, such as cellular communication modalities (e.g. 3G, 4G5G and the like), sub GHz, IP modalities and the like which may provideaccess to a distributed network, such as the Internet.

Wireless communications between Transceivers 101-105 may engage inlogical communications to provide data capable of generating one or moreof: Cartesian coordinates, polar coordinates, vector values, AoA, AoD,RTT, RSS, a GPS position, or other data that may be utilized for one ormore of: locating one or both of an Agent 100; indicating a direction ofinterest; and identify a Structure or defined area 106.

A precise location may be determined via triangulation based upon ameasured distance from three or more Reference Point Transceivers101-104. For example, a radio transmission or light signal may bemeasured and compared from the three reference position identifiers101-103. Other embodiments may include a device recognizable via imageanalysis and a sensor or other Image Capture Device, such as a CCDdevice, may capture an image of three or more Reference PointTransceivers 101-104. Image analysis may recognize the identification ofeach of three or more of the Reference Point Transceivers 101-104 and asize ratio of the respective image captured Reference Point Transceivers101-104 may be utilized to calculate a precise position. Similarly, aheight designation may be made via triangulation using the positionidentifiers as reference to a known height or a reference height.

Transceivers 101-105 may include circuitry and logic capable oftransceiving in a single modality, or multiple disparate modalities.Similarly, a Reference Point Transceiver 101-104 and/or anAgent-supported Transceiver 105 may include multiple transceiver device,including, transmitters and receivers.

A modality, as used in conjunction with a Transceiver, transmitterand/or receiver refers to one or both of a bandwidth of wirelesscommunication and a protocol associated with a bandwidth. By way ofnon-limiting example, a modality, as used in relation to a Transceiver,transmitter and/or receiver may include: Wi-Fi; Wi-Fi RTT; Bluetooth;UWB; Ultrasonic, sonic, infrared; ANT, Zigbee, BLE, Z Wave, 6LoWPAN,Thread, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 33-ah. NFC (near field communications), sub-GHz,Dash 7, Wireless HART or other logical communication medium.

Triangulation essentially includes determining an intersection of threedistances 108-110, each distance 108-110 calculated from a referencepoint 101-104 to an Agent-supported device 105. The presence inventionallows for a first distance 108, to be determined based upon a wirelesscommunication in a first modality; and a second distance 109 and a thirddistance 110 determined based upon a wireless communication in a same ordifferent modality as the first modality. For example, a first distance108 may be determined based upon a wireless communication using UWB; asecond distance 109 may be determined based upon a wirelesscommunication using Bluetooth; and a third communication may bedetermined based upon a wireless communication using ultrasoniccommunication (other combinations of same and/or different communicationmodalities are also within the scope of the present invention).

A location 107 may be determined via triangulation based upon a measureddistance from three or more position identifiers 101-103 to thetransceiver 105 supported by the Agent 100. For example, timingassociated with a radio transmission or light signal may be measured andcompared from the three reference position identifiers 101-103. Otherembodiments may include a device recognizable via image analysis and asensor or other Image Capture Device, such as a CCD device, may capturean image of three or more position identifiers 101-104.

Additional embodiments may include image analysis of image data capturedvia a CCD included in a Smart Device to recognize the identification ofeach of three or more of the position identifiers 101-104 and a sizeratio of the respective image captured position identifiers 101-104 maybe utilized to calculate a precise position. Similarly, a heightdesignation may be made via triangulation using the position identifiersas reference to a known height or a reference height. In a similarfashion, triangulation may be utilized to determine a relative elevationof the Smart Device as compared to a reference elevation of thereference points.

In some embodiments, the position 107 of the Agent-supported Transceiver105 may be ascertained via one or more of: triangulation; trilateration;and multilateration (MLT) techniques.

In some embodiments, a geospatial location based upon triangulation maybe generated based upon a controller receiving a measurement of anglesbetween the position and known points at either end of a fixed baseline.By way of non-limiting example, a point of a geospatial location may bedetermined based upon generation of a triangle with one known side andtwo known angles. Moreover, a geospatial location based uponmultilateration may be generated based on a controller receivingmeasurement of a difference in distance to two reference positions, eachreference position being associated with a known location. Wirelesssignals may be available at one or more of: periodically, withindetermined timespans and continually. The determination of thedifference in distance between two reference positions provides multiplepotential locations at the determined distance. A controller may be usedto generate a plot of potential locations. In some embodiments, thepotential determinations generally form a curve. Specific embodimentswill generate a hyperbolic curve.

The controller may be programmed to execute code to locate a relativelyexact position along a generated curve, which is used to generate ageospatial location. The multilateration system thereby receives asinput multiple measurements of distance to reference points, wherein asecond measurement taken to a second set of stations (which may includeone station of a first set of stations) is used to generate a secondcurve. A point of intersection of the first curve and the second curvemay be used to indicate a specific location.

In another aspect, in some embodiments, the location of a Transceiver101-105 may be determined and/or aided via discernment of data basedupon a physical artifact, such as, for example a visually discernablefeature, shape or printed aspect located within the Structure 106.Discernment of the physical artifact may, for example, be based upontopographical renditions of physical aspects included in the Structure,such as those measured using LIDAR, a magnetic force, image data (or apoint cloud derived from image data). A pattern on a surface may conveya reference point by a recognizable pattern (which may be unique to thesetting), Vernier or three-dimensional structure as non-limitingexamples. A Smart Device ascertaining a physical reference mark and adistance of the Smart Device to the mark may determine a relativelocation in space to a coordinate system of the marks.

Marks tied to a geospatial coordinate system may be utilized todetermine a relative location. A number of methods may be executed todetermine a distance from the Smart Device to a mark such as, forexample, a sense reflection of light beams (preferably laser beams),electromagnetic beams of wavelength outside of the visible band such asIR, UV, Radio and the like, or sound-based emanations.

In some examples, a carefully placed reference point Node may functionas a transceiver of signals. For example, a Node may receive andtransmit signals in a radio frequency band of the electromagneticspectrum. In a simple form, a Node may detect an incoming signal andcoincidently broadcast a radio frequency wireless communication.Frequencies utilized for wireless communication may include those withinthe electromagnetic spectrum radio frequencies used in UWB, Wi-Fi, andBluetooth modalities, as well as IR. Visible and UV light as examples.

In some embodiments, sound emanations may also be used as acommunication mechanism between a smart device and a Reference PointTransceiver 101-104. In some examples, the Reference Point Transceiver101-104 may function to communicate data with their electromagnetic orsonic transmissions. Such communications may provide identifyinginformation unique to the Node, data related to the synchronization oftiming at different well-located reference points and may also functionas general data communication nodes. A triangulation calculation of theposition of a Smart Device or a Node may result from a system ofmultiple reference position Nodes communicating timing signals to orfrom the Smart Device or Node. Methods of calculating positions viawireless communications may include one or more of: RTT, RSSI, AoD, AoA,timing signal differential and the like, Triangulation or othermathematical techniques may also be employed in determining a location.

The process of determination of a position based upon triangulation withthe reference points may be accomplished, for example via executablesoftware interacting with the controller in a Smart Device, such as, forexample via running an app on the Smart Device.

Reference points may be coded via identifiers, such as a UUID(Universally Unique Identifier), or other identification vehicle.

Reference Position Transceivers 101-104 may be deployed in a definedarea 106 to determine a location 107 of an Agent 100 within or proximateto the defined wireless communication area 111. Reference PositionTransceivers 101-104 may be fixed in a certain location and transceivein a manner suitable for a triangulation determination of the positionof the Agent. Transceiving may occur via wireless transmission to one ormore Transceivers 105 supported by the Agent 100. By way of non-limitingexample, Transceivers 105 supported by the Agent 100 may be included in,or be in logical communication with, a Smart Device with Transceivers105 able to transceive with the Reference Position Transceivers 101-104.

The Reference Position Transceivers 101-104 may include devices such asa radio transmitter, radio receiver, a light generator, or animage-recognizable device (i.e., an apparatus set out in a distinctivepattern recognizable by a sensor). A radio transmitter may include a UWBNode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other communication device for entering intological communication between Transceivers 101-105. In some embodiments,Reference Position Transceivers 101-104 may include a Wi-Fi router thatadditionally provides access to a distributed network, such as theInternet. Cartesian coordinates (including Cartesian coordinatesgenerated relative to a GPS or other reference point), or any othercoordinate system, may be used as data that may be utilized for one ormore of: locating one or both of an Agent 100; indicating a direction ofinterest; and identifying a Structure 106 or defined area 106. A radiotransmitter may include a router or other Wi-Fi device. The radiotransmitter may include transmissions via an Ultra Wideband (“UWB”)frequencies including, for example, 3.5-6.5 GHz; on Wi-Fi frequencies(300 MHz-60 GHz), sub-GHz frequencies or another modality. A lightgenerator may distribute light at human-safe intensities and atvirtually any frequency known in the art. Such frequencies include,without limitation, infrared, ultraviolet, visible, or nonvisible light.Further, the light beacon may comprise a laser, which may transmit lightat any of the aforementioned frequencies in a coherent beam.

This plurality of modalities allows for increased accuracy because eachmodality may have a different degree of reliability. For example, aSmart Device mid/or Smart Receptacle may measure a timing signaltransmitted by a Reference Point Transceiver 101-104 within a differenterror tolerance than it may measure the receipt into a photodetector ofinfrared laser light. This has at least two principle benefits. First, alocation calculation may, in some embodiments, be a weighted average ofthe location calculated from each modality. Second, outliers may beshed. For example, if the standard location calculation comprises aweighted average of the location as calculated by five modalities, butone modality yields a location greater than two standard deviations fromthe average computed location, then that modality may not be consideredfor future weighted location calculations.

Additionally, the radio transmitters and/or transceiver in the SmartDevice may comprise multiple antennas that transmit signals in astaggered fashion to reduce noise. By way of non-limiting example, ifthere are three antennas, then they may transmit a signal in intervalsof 20 milliseconds. Given this rate of transmission, a detected time ofarrival may be used to determine the distance between the transmitterand the antenna (i.e., the Smart Device). Moreover, the antennas maycomprise varying lengths to accommodate desirable wavelengths. Further,dead reckoning may be used to measure location, using traditionalmethods of numerical integration.

A precise location may be determined based upon wireless transmissionsbetween Nodes, such as between a Smart Device and the Reference PositionTransceivers. Timing determinations—as well as signal qualities likeangle of arrival, angle of departure, transmission strength,transmission noise, and transmission interruptions—may be considered ingenerating relative positions of Nodes. Additional considerations mayinclude AI and unstructured queries of transmissions between Nodes andtriangulation logic based upon a measured distance from three or moreReference Position Transceivers 101-104. For example, a radiotransmission or light emission may be measured, and timing associatedwith the radio transmission or light to determine a distance betweenNodes. Distances from three Reference Position Transceivers 101-103 maybe used to generate a position of a Node in consideration. Othermethodologies include determination of a distance from one or more Nodesand a respective angle of arrival and/or angle of departure of a radioor light transmission between the Node in consideration and another Node(Reference Point Node or dynamic position Node).

In some embodiments of the invention, position determination in aStructure or on a Property contemplates determination of a geospatiallocation using triangulation, trilateration, or multilaterationtechniques. In some embodiments, a geospatial location relative to oneor more known reference points is generated. The geospatial location inspace may be referred to as having an X,Y position indicating a planardesignation (e.g., a position on a flat floor), and a Z position (e.g.,a level within a Structure, such as a second floor) may be generatedbased upon indicators of distance from reference points. Indicators ofdistance may include a comparison of timing signals received fromwireless references. A geospatial location may be generated relative tothe reference points. In some embodiments, a geospatial location withreference to a larger geographic area is associated with the referencepoints, however, in many embodiments, a controller will generate ageospatial location relative to the reference point(s) and it is notrelevant where the position is located in relation to a greatergeospatial area. In addition to these Cartesian coordinates, polarcoordinates may be used, as further described below.

A geospatial location based upon triangulation may be generated basedupon a controller receiving a measurement of angles between the positionand known points at either end of a fixed baseline. A point of ageospatial location may be determined based upon generation of atriangle with one known side and two known angles.

Referring again to FIG. 1, triangulation essentially includesdetermining an intersection of three distances 108-210, each distance108-110 calculated from a reference point 101-104 to an Agent-supporteddevice 105. The present invention allows for a first distance 108 to bedetermined based upon a wireless communication in a first modality; anda second distance 109 and a third distance 110 determined based upon awireless communication in a same or different modality as the firstmodality. For example, a first distance 108 may be determined based upona wireless communication using UWB; a second distance 109 may bedetermined based upon a wireless communication using Bluetooth; and athird communication may be determined based upon a wirelesscommunication using ultrasonic communication (other combinations of sameand/or different communication modalities are also within the scope ofthe present invention).

A geospatial location based upon trilateration may be generated basedupon a controller receiving wireless indicators of distance and geometryof geometric shapes, such as circles, spheres, triangles and the like.

A geospatial location based upon multilateration may be generated basedon a controller receiving a measurement of a difference in distance totwo reference positions, each reference position being associated with aknown location. Wireless signals may be available at one or more of:periodically, within determined timespans, and continually. Thedetermination of the difference in distance between two referencepositions provides multiple potential locations at the determineddistance. A controller (such as one in the Smart Device) may be used togenerate a plot of potential locations. In some embodiments, thepotential determinations generally form a curve. Specific embodimentswill generate a hyperbolic curve.

The controller may be programmed to execute code to locate an exactposition along a generated curve, which is used to generate a geospatiallocation. The multilateration thereby receives as input multiplemeasurements of distance to reference points, wherein a secondmeasurement taken to a second set of stations (which may include onestation of a first set of stations) is used to generate a second curve.A point of intersection of the first curve and the second curve is usedto indicate a specific location.

In exemplary embodiments, as described herein, the distances may betriangulated based on measurements of UWB, Wi-Fi, or sub-GHz strength attwo points. Transceiver signals propagate outward as a wave, ideallyaccording to an inverse square law. Ultimately, a crucial feature of thepresent invention relies on measuring relative distances between twopoints. In light of the speed of Wi-Fi waves and the real-timecomputations involved in orienteering; these computations need to be ascomputationally simple as possible. Thus, depending upon a specificapplication and mechanism for quantifying a condition or location, suchas a measurement, various coordinate systems may be desirable. Inparticular, if the Smart Device moves only in a planar direction whilethe elevation is constant, or only at an angle relative to the ground,the computation less complicated.

One exemplary coordinate system includes a polar coordinate system. Oneexample of a three-dimensional polar coordinate system is a sphericalcoordinate system. A spherical coordinate system typically comprisesthree coordinates: a radial coordinate, a polar angle, and an azimuthalangle (r, θ, and φ, respectively, though θ and φ are occasionallyswapped conventionally).

By way of non-limiting example, suppose Point 1 is considered the originfor a spherical coordinate system (i.e., the point (0, 0, 0)). EachTransceiver 101-105 emitter e₁ e₂, e₃ can be described as points (r₁,θ₁, φ₁), (r₂, θ₂, φ₂), and (r₃, θ₃, φ₃), respectively. Each of ther_(i)'s (1≤i≤3) represent the distance between the Transceiver 101-105emitter and the Transceiver 101-105 receiver on the Smart Device orSmart Receptacle (see FIG. 5A).

It is understood that in some embodiments, an azimuth may include anangle, such as a horizontal angle determined in an arcuate manner from areference plane or other base direction line, such as an angle formedbetween a reference point or reference direction; and line (ray orvector) such as a ray or vector generated from or continuing to a SmartDevice. In preferred embodiments, the ray or vector may be generallydirected from a Reference Position Transceiver towards, and/or intersectone or more of: an item of interest; a point of interest; anarchitectural aspect (such as a wall, beam, header, corner, arch,doorway, window, etc.); an installed component that may act as areference in an augmented virtual model (AVM) (such as, for example, anelectrical outlet, a light fixture, a plumbing fixture, an architecturalaspect; an item of equipment; an appliance; a multimedia device, etc.);another Reference Position Transceiver or other identifiabledestination.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, a spherical coordinate system mayinclude Reference Position Transceiver that is capable of determining anangle of departure of a location signal and a Transceiver that iscapable of determining an angle of arrival of the location signal; oneor both of which may be used to facilitate determination of anapplicable azimuth.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, one or bothof an angle of departure and an angle of arrival may therefore beregistered by a Transceiver that is transmitting and/or receivingwireless signals (e.g., radio frequency, UWB, Bluetooth 5.1, sonicfrequency, or light frequency).

In some embodiments, locating an Agent occurs in or proximate to aStructure in which Reference Position Transceivers, (including, forexample, one or more of: Wi-Fi Transceivers, UWB Transceivers, BluetoothTransceivers, infrared Transceivers and ultrasonic Transceivers) may belocated above and/or below an Agent. In these embodiments, a cylindricalcoordinate system may be more appropriate. A cylindrical coordinatesystem typically comprises three coordinates: a radial coordinate, anangular coordinate, and an elevation (r, θ, and z, respectively). Acylindrical coordinate system may be desirable where, for example, allWi-Fi emitters have the same elevation. Angles may be determined asdescribed above.

In some embodiments, transceivers 101-105 including arrays of antennasmay be used to measure an angle of radio communication (e.g., angle ofarrival and/or angle of departure). Various configurations oftransmitting antennas and receiving antennas may be used. For example, aradio transmission may be transmitted with a single antenna and receivedwith a receiver with an array of antennas, the phase or timingdifference of arriving signals can be used to calculate the angle atwhich the signals emerged. In angle of departure schemes, a transmittermay contain an array of antennas and may send a pattern of signalsthrough the array that arrive at a receiver with a single antenna wherethe angle of departure (AoD) is communicated.

Measurement of angle of arrival may be performed as mentioned bycalculation of time difference of arrival at the antennas in an array oralternatively can be performed by rotation of antenna elements.

Some modalities, such as those modalities that adhere to the Bluetooth5.1 or BLE5.1 standards, allow a Smart Device, Smart Receptacle or otherNode to determine an angle of arrival (AoA) or an angle of departure(AoD) for a wireless transmission. An array of antennas may be used tomeasure aspects of the Bluetooth signaling that may be useful tocalculate these AoA and AoD parameters. By calibrating an antennasystem, the system may be used to determine angles in one or twodimensions depending on the design of the antenna. The result may besignificant improvement in pinpointing the location of origin of asignal.

An array of antennas may be positioned relative to each other and atransmitting transceiver to allow for extraction of an AoA/AoD. Such anarray may include a rectangular array; a polar or circular array; alinear array; and a patterned array, where a number of antennas aredeployed in a pattern conducive to a particular environment fortransceiving. Antennas may be separated by characterized distances fromeach other, and in some examples, a training protocol for the antennaarray results in antenna positioning incorporating superior angle andlocation precision. Some transceivers may transceive in 2.4-2.482 GHzfrequency bands, and thus the radiofrequency transmissions may havewavelengths in the roughly 125 mm length scale. A collection of antennasseparated by significantly less than the wavelength may function bycomparing a phase of RF transmissions arriving at the antennas. Anaccurate extraction of phase differences can yield a difference in pathlength that, when accumulated, can lead to a solution for the anglesinvolved. In some embodiments, Transceivers 101-105 may include antennaarrays combined with batteries and circuitry to form completeself-contained devices. Antenna arrays and methods of using the same fordetermining position and direction of a Smart Device or other Node aredescribed in U.S. Ser. No. 16/775,223, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

In an example, an Agent-supported transceiver 105 may be located at aposition and may transmit a signal of the various types as have beendescribed. Nodes, such as Reference Point Transceivers 101-104 locatedat reference points in the wireless communication area around theposition of the Agent 100 may receive the transmission and determine theangle of arrival of that transmission. Similarly, transmissionassociated with other transceivers 101-103 may also determine an angleof arrival of transmissions. In some embodiments, transceiver 101-103may communicate with one or more of: each other, a smart device, acontroller or other processor to mathematically process multiple anglesand locations of the transceivers and calculate a position of atransmission emanation. In examples where calculations are not performedat a smart device, a communication to the smart device of the calculatedposition may be communicated.

In certain embodiments of the invention, a direction of interestindicated by Smart Device or a Smart Receptacle (see FIG. 5A) may bedetermined based upon a movement of Smart Device 101 or a SmartReceptacle 502. For example, a device with a controller and anaccelerometer, such as mobile Smart Device, may include a user displaythat allows a direction to be indicated by movement of the device from adetermined location acting as a base position towards an As Builtfeature in an extended position. In some implementations, the SmartDevice may first determine a first position based upon triangulationwith the reference points and a second position (extended position) alsobased upon triangulation with the reference points. These positiondeterminations may proceed as described above. The process ofdetermination of a position based upon triangulation with the referencepoints may be accomplished, for example via executable softwareinteracting with the controller in the Smart Device, such as, forexample via running an app on the Smart Device. Logical communicationsrelevant to location determination may include, for example, one or moreof: timing signals; SIM information; received signal strength; GPS data;raw radio measurements; Cell-ID; round trip time of a signal; phase; andangle of received/transmitted signal; time of arrival of a signal; atime difference of arrival; and other data useful in determining alocation.

In another aspect, captured data may be compared to a library of storeddata using image recognition software to ascertain and/or affirm aspecific location, elevation and direction of an image capture locationand proper alignment with the virtual model. In an example, a positionof a user may be determined by any of the means described herein. A usermay position a sensor of an associated smart device to be pointing in adirection of interest and obtain an image. The image may be passed on toa server with access to database of images containing stored images ofthe space around the user. Algorithms on the server may compare thestored images to the image captured by the user and may calculateadjustments to the comparative image based on where the reference imagewas taken in relationship to the location of the user. Based on thedetermination that the calculated adjusted image compared to the imageobtained by the user in the direction of interest, a direction may beinferred with known location of objects in the reference image. In somevariations, the differences in features of the user obtained imagecompared to a reference image may be used to calculate a direction ofinterest based upon a location at which the reference image wasobtained.

In some examples, stored images may be obtained at multiple angles toimprove accuracy of orienteering. These examples may include sensorarrays, audio capture arrays and sensor arrays with multiple datacollection angles. In some examples a full 360-degree sensor perspectivemay be obtained by such arrays. In some directional arrays, a Sensorarray (including image capture sensors) may include at least 120 degreesof data capture. By collecting such image collections as theSensor/Sensor systems are moved, a database of image perspectives may beformed and utilized to assist in orienteering as described.

Non-limiting examples may include image-based identification where adevice with some imaging means, including but not limited to a mobiledevice sensor, tablet device sensor, computer sensor, security sensor,or AR headset sensor, may image points of interest in a direction ofinterest. These points of interest may be identified. Image recognitionsoftware may be used to identify the visualized landscape by itsidentifying features. Machine learning may be used to train systemsusing this software to identify specific features of the environment inquestion.

To create a supplemental topographic part of a model of the environmentof a user, laser scanning and/or LiDAR may be performed during theacquisition of imagery for a reference database. A resultingthree-dimensional shape model may be modelled with the captured imageryto help in the comparison to user data. Three-dimensional shapes can beused to infer comparative imagery at different angles of acquisitionthan exist in a database. In another example, a device of a user mayhave the means of performing laser scanning or LiDAR scanning of theenvironment as well as obtaining images. The resultant three-dimensionaldata or a composite of the three-dimensional data, and the imagery maybe used to recognize features and determine a direction that the userwas facing when they collected the image.

The results of scanning may be stored and presented in differentmanners. In some examples, the scanned data may be represented by apoint cloud representation; in other examples an estimated topographicsurface representation may be used to visualize the three-dimensionalshape data obtained. In some examples, outward facing planes of thesurface topography may have the captured imagery superimposed upon them.The resulting image and three-dimensional models may be used tocalculate a direction of interest or a device field of view in a dynamicsense or alternatively upon user request.

In some examples other methods of capturing spatially accurateinformation may include the use of drones and optical scanningtechniques which may include high resolution imagery obtained frommultiple viewpoints. Scanning may be performed with light-based methodssuch as a CCD sensor. Other methods may include infrared, ultraviolet,acoustic, and magnetic and electric field mapping techniques.

In other embodiments, a single distance to a point of interest in animage, which may be obtained by a laser, other collimated light source,sound source or the like, may be used with models of the environment ofthe user. A comparison of the imagery and the measurement of thedistance of the user to a prominent feature in the image may allow foran orientation of the user to be determined algorithmically.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of sonic-wave aspectsof the invention are shown. In some exemplary embodiments, radiofrequencies used for wireless communication include sound waves used toperform one or more of: location determination; movement tracking ininterior or exterior areas; and distance calculation. Sound wavetransmissions include a number of significant attributes, which maytranslate into a benefit for a given set of circumstances when used forRF based location determination.

According to the present invention, sonic waves may be deployedindependently, or in combination with electromagnetic transmissions andreception of logical communications utilizing other bandwidths, such asbandwidths associated with Ultrawideband, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,Ultrawideband, ANT, infrared or almost any wavelength in the Industrial,Scientific and Medical bands (sometimes referred to as “ISM Bands”).

For example, sound waves travel through an ambient atmosphere at asignificantly slower speed than electromagnetic radiation(6×10{circumflex over ( )}2 m/sec versus 3×10{circumflex over ( )}8m/sec). Therefore, a relative accuracy for measurements related totravel times may be improved in some environments by orders of magnitudeusing sonic-based location tracking as compared to electromagnetic-basedmeasurements. Therefore, using sonic communications may result inincreased accuracy of location determination, in some environments.

The present invention also provides for sonic wave emanations may beused to complement electromagnetic emanations based upon a tendency thatsonic waves generally do not efficiently penetrate walls other physicalitems or structures. Sonic transceivers may be particularly advantageousin a defined area where location can be unambiguously determined to bewithin a particular room (the use of multiple bandwidth transmitting andreceiving for different purposes is further discussed below). Sound waveinteraction with a solid surface, such as a wall, may require that foroptimal performance, transceiver/transmitters/receivers to be located ineach room where location detection is desired. In some embodiments, areflected sonic transmission may be received and analyzed to determinean effect of the reflected nature of the transmission.

Accordingly, methods may be employed using sonic emanations andreception for location determination. In general, frequencies ofeffective indoor sonic location detection may be at ultrasonicbandwidths (commonly used bandwidths include frequencies of between 1MHz and 10 MHz, although frequencies of less than 50 kHz to greater than200 MHz are possible). The utilized frequencies may be either below orabove audible detection by people or other animals in the location; suchas at frequencies above 20 kHz.

Sound waves may be used to perform one or more of: locationdetermination, movement tracking in interior or exterior locations, anddistance calculation from a position to a Smart Device, which may beaccomplished based upon transmission and receipt of sonic transmission.Sound wave transmissions include several significant attributes, whichmay be beneficial for a given set of circumstances when used forradiofrequency-based location determination. According to the presentinvention, sonic waves may be deployed independently, or in combinationwith, transmissions and reception of logical communications utilizingother bandwidths, such as bandwidths associated with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,ANT, infrared or almost any wavelength in the ISM Bands. Methods,devices, and apparatus for using sound waves in location determinationmay be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,628,617, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in some embodiments, a sonic Transceiver 200may transmit a sonic transmission 202 and determine a location 201 basedupon receiving an echo 203 back from an Agent-supported transceiver 204.Walls 205 may also generate reflected sonic emanations 206.

In some examples, as may be used in orienteering herein, anAgent-supported device 204 may support receivers, transmitters ortransceivers that interact with ultrasonic transceivers fixedly securedto a reference point position, such as via mechanical mounting within aroom environment. An ultrasonic positioning system may have indoorpositioning accuracy at centimeter, millimeter, and even sub-millimeteraccuracy. Multiple ultrasonic Transceivers may transceive from anAgent-supported device to communicate with fixed reference pointtransceivers may transmit signals. Arrival of the sound transmissionsmay be accurately timed and converted to distances. In some embodiments,distance determinations may be improved with knowledge of temperaturesin the environment containing the sound transceiving. For example,temperature may be measured at one or more of: an Agent-supported SmartDevice, a Reference Point position, and an ambient environment.

In some examples, synced timing apparatus is able to generate a locationof a stationary Agent to within centimeter accuracy using sonic wavetransmissions and reception and preferably within several millimeters ofaccuracy. In addition, in some embodiments sensors are able to detectfrequency shifts within the sonic emanations which may add informationabout the relative rate of movement of the Agent, which may then in turnallow for correction to the timing signals.

In some examples, a combination of radio frequency emissions andultrasonic emissions may be used. For example, a complement of radiofrequency emissions/receptions and ultrasonic of radio frequencyemissions and ultrasonic emissions may be reconciled to generate moreaccurate location determination. In another aspect, a radio frequencysignal may be used to transmit syncing signals that establish a timethat ultrasonic signals are transmitted. Since the electromagnetictransmissions may be orders of magnitude faster than soundtransmissions, the electromagnetic transmissions relatively small timeof travel from the Transceivers to the Agent may be negligible andtherefore used as “zero-time” setpoints as received at theAgent-supported Transceiver. In such embodiments, a controllerdetermining a location may use not only relative arrival times, but alsoa delta time between a radiofrequency transmission and ultrasonictransmission to determine a distance from a transmitting Transceiver. Anarray of such ultrasonic and/or radiofrequency transceivers provideincreased accuracy in triangulating a location of the Agent.

In still further examples, RF communications may not only transmit asyncing pulse, but also transmit digital data about various aspects of adefined area, such as the defined area's identification, its relativeand/or absolute location in space and other refinements. In someexamples, data related to improved distance calculation may also betransmitted by RF communication such as temperature of the environment,humidity and the like which may influence the speed of sound in theenvironment as a non-limiting example. In some examples, such a systemmay result in millimeter level accuracy of position determination.

In some examples, the process may be iterated to refine the direction ofeach of the ultrasonic transmitters and maximize signal levels of thetransmission which may provide additional information in the calculationof a position. RF and Wi-Fi transmissions may be used for datacommunications and syncing as have been described. In other examples, asan Agent-supported device 204 is moving, an iterative process may beused to track the Agent-supported device 204 moves through space.Stationary Agents may be tracked with submillimeter accuracy in someembodiments.

A direction dimension may be based upon multiple transceivers includedin a Smart Device or a Smart Receptacle or via a movement of a SmartDevice or Smart Receptacle while an Agent supporting the Smart Device orSmart Receptacle remains in a stationary position in relation toreference, such as a ground plane position. For example, a device with acontroller and an accelerometer, such as mobile Smart Device, mayinclude a user display that allows a direction to be indicated bymovement of the device from a determined location acting as a baseposition towards a feature in the intended direction where the movementresults in an extended position. In some implementations, the SmartDevice may first determine a first position based upon triangulationwith the reference points and a second position (extended position) alsobased upon triangulation with the reference points.

As described above, facing a mobile device towards an area in aStructure and movement of the mobile device in a particular pattern maybe used to ascertain a specific area in space to be interpreted byvarious methods. In some examples, the leading edge of a smart device,or the top portion of the user screen (in either portrait or landscapemode of display) may be the reference for the direction pointed in bythe user. If the smart device is held at an angle relative to theground, in some examples, the angle formed by the perpendicular to thetop portion of the user screen may be projected upon the ground and thatprojection taken as the indication of direction.

Referring now to FIG. 3, methods and devices for determining a directionthat may be referenced for one or both of data capture and datapresentation of a particular portion of the virtual representation ofsurroundings of a user. An Agent 300 may position a Transceiver 305 in afirst position 301 proximate to a portion in a space of interest 325.The first position 301 of the Transceiver 305 may be determined andrecorded. The Agent 300 may then relocate the Transceiver 305 to asecond position 302 in a general direction of the portion in space ofinterest. With associated position information obtained for the firstand second positions a controller in an external system or in anassociated Transceiver 305 may generate one or both of a ray and avector towards the portion of a space of interest.

In some embodiments, the vector may have a length determined by acontroller that is based upon a distance to a feature of interest inspace as represented in a model on the controller in the direction ofthe generated vector. The vector may represent a distance 303 from thesecond position 302 to the space of interest 325 along the axis definedby a line between the first position 301 and the second position 302. Incontrast, a ray may include just a starting point and a direction.

In still other embodiments, a device with a controller and anaccelerometer, such as mobile phone, tablet or other Smart Device thatincludes a Transceiver 305, may include a user display that allows adirection to be indicated by movement of the device from a determinedlocation acting as a base position towards an point in a direction ofinterest or representing a center of an RTA of the device. The movementmay occur to a second location in an extended position. In someimplementations, the Smart Device determines a first position 301 basedupon triangulation with the reference points. The process ofdetermination of a position based upon triangulation with the referencepoints may be accomplished, for example via executable softwareinteracting with a controller in the Smart Device, such as, for exampleby running an app on the Transceiver 305.

An array of antennas positioned at a user reference point may allow forthe accurate receipt of orientation information from a transmitter. Asdiscussed earlier, a combination device with arrays of antennas may beused to calculation a position. A single Node with an array of antennascan be used for orienteering and determining a direction of interest.Each of the antennas in such an array receiving a signal from a sourcemay have different phase aspects of the received signal at the antennasdue to different distances that the emitted signal passes through. Thephase differences can be turned into a computed angle that the sourcemakes with the antenna array.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-D a series of exemplary devices employing matrices(or arrays) of antennas for use with Nodes that communicate wirelessly,such as via exemplary UWB, Sonic, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi or other modality,is illustrated. Linear antenna arrays 401 are illustrated in FIG. 4A.Rectangular antenna arrays 402 are illustrated in FIG. 4B. Circularantenna arrays 403 are illustrated in FIG. 4C, other shapes for arraysare within the scope of the invention. In addition, an antenna array maybe omni-directional or directional.

In some embodiments, see FIG. 4D item 404, a Smart Device 405 mayinclude one or more Nodes 406 internal to the Smart Device 405 orfixedly attached or removably attached to the Smart Device 405. EachNode 406 may include antenna arrays combined with a power source andcircuitry to form complete self-contained devices. The Nodes 406 or acontroller may determine an RTT, time of arrival, AoA and/or AoD orother related angular determinations based upon values for variablesinvolved in wireless communications. For example, a composite device 404may be formed when a Node 406 with a configuration of antennas, such asthe illustrated exemplary circular configuration of antennas 407, isattached to a Smart Device 405. The Node 406 attached to the SmartDevice 405 may communicate information from and to the Smart Device 405including calculated results received from or about another Node 406,such as a Node 406 fixed as a Reference Point Transceiver or a Node withdynamic locations, wherein the wireless communications are conducive togeneration of data useful for determination of a position (e.g. timingdata, angles of departure and/or arrival, amplitude, strength, phasechange, etc.). A combination of angles from multiple fixed referencepoints to the antenna array can allow for a location of a user in space.However, with even a single wireless source able to communicate with theantenna array, it may be possible to determine a direction of interestor a device related field of view.

An array of antennas positioned at a reference point may allow for theaccurate receipt of orientation information from a transmitter. Asdiscussed earlier, a combination device with arrays of antennas may beused to calculation a position. A single Node with an array of antennascan be used for orienteering and determining a direction of interest.Each of the antennas in such an array receiving a signal from a sourcewill have different phase aspects of the received signal at the antennasdue to different distances that the emitted signal passes through. Thephase differences can be turned into a computed angle that the sourcemakes with the antenna array.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, in some embodiments, one or both of a SmartDevice 501 and a Smart Receptacle 502 may incorporate multipleTransceivers 503-510 and a direction of interest may be ascertained bygenerating a vector 527 passing through a respective position of each ofat least two of the transceivers (as illustrated through transceiver 505and 507). The respective positions of each of the transceivers 503-510supported by the Smart Device 501 and/or Smart Receptacle 502 may beascertained according to the methods presented herein, including forexample via triangulation, trilateration, signal strength analysis, RTT,AoD, AoA, topography recognition, and the like. Reference PositionTransceivers 511-514 may be fixed in a certain location.

In some embodiments, one or both of the Smart Device 501 and the SmartReceptacle 502 incorporating Transceivers 503-510 may be rotated in amanner (such as, for example in a clockwise or counterclockwise movement520, 522 relative to a display screen) that repositions one or moreTransceivers 503-510 from a first position to a second position. Avector 526 may be generated at an angle that is zero degrees 524 with aplane of a display 515 or perpendicular 525 or some other designatedangle in relation to the smart device 501 and an associated displayscreen 515. In some embodiments, an angle in relation to the smartdevice is perpendicular 525 to a display screen 515 and thereby viewablevia a forward-looking sensor (or other CCD or LIDAR device) on the smartdevice. In addition, a mirror or other angle-altering device may be usedin conjunction with a CCD, LIDAR or other energy receiving device.

Movements of a Smart Device 501 equipped with an antenna array can bedetermined via relative positions of the antenna and/or via operation ofan accelerometer 524 within the Smart Device 501 or Smart Receptacle502. Rough movement sense may be inferred with a single source to theantenna array. However, with multiple sources, the positional movementof each of the antennas can be used to sense many types of movementsincluding translations and rotations.

A user may position the smart device 501 such that an object in adirection of interest is within in the CCD view. The smart device maythen be moved to reposition one or more of the transceivers 503-510 froma first position to a second position and thereby capture the directionof interest via a generation of a vector in the direction of interest.

In addition to movement of the Smart Device 501 and/or the SmartReceptacle 502 may include a magnetic force detection device 523, suchas a magnetometer. A registration of a magnetic force may be determinedin relation to a particular direction of interest 524-525 and asubsequent determination of magnetic force referenced or provide asubsequent orientation of the Smart Device 501 or Smart Receptable 502.

In some embodiments, the magnetic force detection device 523 may be usedin combination with, or in place of directional movement of the SmartDevice transceivers 503-507 to quantify a direction of interest to auser. Embodiments may include an electronic and/or magnetic sensor toindicate a direction of interest when a Smart Device 501 and/or SmartReceptacle 502 is aligned in a direction of interest. Alignment mayinclude, for example, pointing a specified side of a Smart Device 501and/or Smart Receptacle 502, or pointing an arrow or other symboldisplayed upon a user interface on the Smart Device 501 towards adirection of interest.

A magnetic force detection device 523 may detect a magnetic fieldparticular to a setting that a Smart Device is located. For example, insome embodiments, a particular structure or other setting may have amagnetic force that is primarily subject to the earth's magnetic fieldor may be primarily subject to electromagnetic forces from equipment,power lines, or some other magnetic influence or disturbance. An initialquantification of a magnetic influence at a first instance in time maybe completed and may be compared to a subsequent quantification ofmagnetic influence at a later instance in time. In this manner aninitial direction of interest indicated by a position, orientation,pitch and yaw of a Node, such as a Smart Device may be compared to asubsequent position, orientation, pitch and yaw of the Smart Device.

In some embodiments, an initial position, pitch and yaw of a SmartDevice 501 may be described as a relative angle to a presiding magneticforce. Examples of presiding magnetic forces include, magneticinfluences of electrical charges, Earth's magnetic field, magnetizedmaterials, permanent magnetic material, strong magnetic fields,ferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism, antiferromagnetism, paramagnetism, anddiamagnetism, or electric fields that are generated at reference nodesat known positions which may be locally used to indicate a direction ofinterest.

Smart devices may include electronic magnetic sensors as part of theirdevice infrastructure. The magnetic sensors may typically includesensing elements deployed along three axes. In some examples, themagnetic sensors may be supplemented with electronic accelerometers,such as MEMS accelerometers.

In some examples the magnetic sensors may measure a sensed magneticfield perpendicular to the body of the sensor through a Hall effectsensor. In some examples, a Hall effect sensor may be built into siliconto generate a relatively sensitive sensing capability for magneticfields. In some Hall effect sensors, electrons and holes flowing in aregion of the silicon may interact with the regional magnetic field andbuild up on the fringes of the conduction region, thus generating ameasurable voltage potential. In other examples, anisotropicmagnetoresistance sensors may sensitively detect the magnetic field atthe device as a significant change in resistance of structure elementsin the device.

In still further examples, giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors maydetect the magnetic field. In some of these examples, the GMR sensorsmay detect a magnetic field with a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP)GMR configuration. In other examples, a current-in-plane (CIP) GMRsensor configuration may be used. The resulting three-axis magneticsensors may perform a sensitive compass function to determine adirection of a specified portion of the Smart Device and/or an edge ofthe smart device relative to the local magnetic field environment. Aspecified portion of the Smart Device may be indicated via a userinterface presented on a screen of the Smart Device.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, as illustrated, a vector in a direction ofinterest 525 may be based upon a rocking motion 523-524 of the smartdevice 501, such as a movement of an upper edge 518 in a forward arcuatemovement 523. The lower edge 519 may also be moved in a complementaryarcuate movement 524 or remain stationary. The movement of one or boththe upper edge 518—and lower edge 519 also results in movement of one ormore transceivers 503-510 (Shown in FIG. 5A) and/or registration in anonboard accelerometer 534. The movement of the transceivers 503-510(Shown in FIG. 5A) will preferably be a sufficient distance to registerdisparate geospatial positions based upon wireless transmissions and/orsufficient to register movement via the accelerometer 534.

As presented herein, a direction dimension may be based upon one or moreof: a wireless position of two or more transceivers, a movement of adevice, a magnetic force determination, a LIDAR transmission andreceiving, CCD energy determinations and other assessments of anenvironment containing the Smart Device and/or Smart Receptacle. Forexample, a device with a controller and an accelerometer, such as amobile Smart Device, may include a user display that allows a directionto be indicated by movement of the device from a determined locationacting as a base position towards a feature in the intended directionwhere the movement results in an extended position. In someimplementations, the Smart Device may first determine a first positionbased upon triangulation with the reference points and a second position(extended position) also based upon triangulation with the referencepoints.

As described above, facing a mobile device towards an area in aStructure and movement of the mobile device in a particular pattern maybe used to ascertain a specific area in space to be interpreted byvarious methods.

Referring to FIG. 5C, an illustration of an Agent 550 utilizing anoriented stereoscopic sensor system 565 to orient a direction ofinterest is shown. The stereoscopic sensor system 551 may obtain twodifferent images from different viewpoints 552-553 which may be used tocreate topographical shape profiles algorithmically. A controller mayobtain the image and topographic data and algorithmically compare themto previously stored images and topographic data in the generalenvironment of the user. The resulting comparison of the imagery andtopography may determine an orientation in space of the Agent 501 and insome examples determine a device field of view. The controller mayutilize this determined field of view for various functionality asdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 6 an automated controller is illustrated that maybe used to implement various aspects of the present invention, invarious embodiments, and for various aspects of the present invention,controller 600 may be included in one or more of: a wireless tablet orhandheld device, a server, a rack mounted processor unit. The controllermay be included in one or more of the apparatus described above, such asa Smart Device, Smart Tablet. Headgear, Smart Watch, Smart Ring or otherSmart Device. The controller 600 includes a processor unit 620, such asone or more semiconductor-based processors, coupled to a communicationdevice 610 configured to communicate via a communication network (notshown in FIG. 6). The communication device 610 may be used tocommunicate, for example, via a distributed network such as a cellularnetwork, an IP network, the Internet or other distributed logiccommunication network.

The processor 620 is also in communication with a storage device 630.The storage device 630 may comprise any appropriate information storagedevice, including combinations of digital data storage devices (e.g.,solid state drives and hard disk drives), optical storage devices,and/or semiconductor memory devices such as Random Access Memory (RAM)devices and Read Only Memory (ROM) devices.

The storage device 630 can store a software program 640 with executablelogic for controlling the processor 620. The processor 620 performsinstructions of the software program 640, and thereby operates inaccordance with the present invention. The processor 620 may also causethe communication device 610 to transmit information, including, in someinstances, control commands to operate apparatus to implement theprocesses described above. The storage device 630 can additionally storerelated data in a database 650 and database 660, as needed.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a block diagram of an exemplary Smart Device702 is shown. Smart Device 702 comprises an optical capture device 708to capture an image and convert it to machine-compatible data, and anoptical path 706, typically a lens, an aperture or an image conduit toconvey the image from the rendered document to the optical capturedevice 708. The optical capture device 708 may incorporate a CCD, aComplementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) imaging device, or anoptical Sensor 724 of another type.

A microphone 710 and associated circuitry may convert the sound of theenvironment, including spoken words, into machine-compatible signals.Input facilities may exist in the form of buttons, scroll wheels, orother tactile Sensors such as touch-pads. In some embodiments, inputfacilities may include a touchscreen display.

Visual feedback to the user is possible through a visual display,touchscreen display, or indicator lights. Audible feedback 734 may comefrom a loudspeaker or other audio transducer. Tactile feedback may comefrom a vibrate module 736.

A magnetic force sensor 737, such as a Hall Effect Sensor, solid statedevice, MEMS device or other silicon based or micro-electronicapparatus.

A motion Sensor 738 and associated circuitry converts motion of thesmart device 702 into a digital value or other machine-compatiblesignals. The motion Sensor 738 may comprise an accelerometer that may beused to sense measurable physical acceleration, orientation, vibration,and other movements. In some embodiments, motion Sensor 738 may includea gyroscope or other device to sense different motions.

A location Sensor 740 and associated circuitry may be used to determinethe location of the device. The location Sensor 740 may detect GlobalPosition System (GPS) radio signals from satellites or may also useassisted GPS where the mobile device may use a cellular network todecrease the time necessary to determine location. In some embodiments,the location Sensor 740 may use radio waves to determine the distancefrom known radio sources such as cellular towers to determine thelocation of the smart device 702. In some embodiments these radiosignals may be used in addition to GPS.

Smart Device 702 comprises logic 726 to interact with the various othercomponents, possibly processing the received signals into differentformats and/or interpretations. Logic 726 may be operable to read andwrite data and program instructions stored in associated storage ormemory 730 such as RAM, ROM, flash. SSD, or other suitable memory. Itmay read a time signal from the clock unit 728. In some embodiments,Smart Device 702 may have an on-board power supply 732. In otherembodiments, Smart Device 702 may be powered from a tethered connectionto another device or power source.

Smart Device 702 also includes a network interface 716 to communicatedata to a network and/or an associated computing device. Networkinterface 716 may provide two-way data communication. For example,network interface 716 may operate according to the internet protocol. Asanother example, network interface 716 may be a local area network (LAN)card allowing a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Asanother example, network interface 716 may be a cellular antenna andassociated circuitry which may allow the mobile device to communicateover standard wireless data communication networks. In someimplementations, network interface 716 may include a Universal SerialBus (USB) to supply power or transmit data. In some embodiments, otherwireless links may also be implemented.

As an example of one use of Smart Device 702, a reader may scan somecoded information from a location marker in a facility with Smart Device702. The coded information may include for example, a hash code, barcode, RFID or other data storage device. In some embodiments, the scanmay include a bit-mapped image via the optical capture device 708. Logic726 causes the bit-mapped image to be stored in memory 730 with anassociated time-stamp read from the clock unit 728. Logic 726 may alsoperform optical character recognition (OCR) or other post-scanprocessing on the bit-mapped image to convert it to text. Logic 726 mayoptionally extract a signature from the image, for example by performinga convolution-like process to locate repeating occurrences ofcharacters, symbols or objects, and determine the distance or number ofother characters, symbols, or objects between these repeated elements.The reader may then upload the bit-mapped image (or text or othersignature, if post-scan processing has been performed by logic 726) toan associated computer via network interface 716.

As an example of another use of Smart Device 702, a reader may recitewords to create an audio file by using microphone 710 as an acousticcapture port. Logic 726 causes audio file to be stored in memory 730.Logic 726 may also perform voice recognition or other post-scanprocessing on the audio file to convert it to text. As above, the readermay then upload the audio file (or text produced by post-scan processingperformed by logic 726) to an associated computer via network interface716.

A directional sensor 741 may also be incorporated into Smart Device 702.The directional device may be a compass and be based upon a magneticreading, or based upon network settings. The magnetic sensor may includethree axes of magnetic sensitive elements and may also be coupled withan accelerometer in the directional sensor 741.

A LiDAR sensing system 751 may also be incorporated into Smart Device702. The LiDAR system may include a scannable laser light (or othercollimated) light source which may operate at nonvisible wavelengthssuch as in the infrared. An associated sensor device, sensitive to thelight of emission may be included in the system to record time andstrength of returned signal that is reflected off of surfaces in theenvironment of Smart Device 702. Aspects relating to capturing data withLiDAR and comparing it to a library of stored data (which may beobtained at multiple angles to improve accuracy) are discussed above.

Physical world and virtual-world based imagery related to theenvironment of a user may be presented via a user interface that maydisplay on a Smart Device screen or other interactive mechanism, or insome embodiments, be presented in an augmented of virtual environment,such as via a VR or AR headset. The imagery displayed upon these devicesmay represent a composite of image data reflective of a real-world datastream as well as digitally added/superimposed image data from a virtualor digital source data stream. A user may be presented a typical imageas it would look to the user's eyes physically, upon which digitalshapes representing virtual “Tags” may be superimposed to represent thepresence of digital information that may be accessed by a user. In otherexamples, the digital information may be directly displayed as asuperposition. In some examples, the real-world and virtual-worldenvironments may be displayed separately on a screen or separately intime.

In some examples, the “physical world image” may also be digitallyformed or altered. For, example, an imaging device may obtain imageswhere the sensing elements of the imaging device are sensitive to adifferent frequency of electromagnetic radiation, such as in anon-limiting sense infrared radiation. The associated “real-world image”may be a color scale representation of the images obtained in theinfrared spectrum. In still further examples, two different real-worldimages may be superimposed upon each other with or without additionalvirtual elements. Thus, a sensor image may have an IR sensor imagesuperimposed over part or all of the image and a digital shaperepresenting a virtual Tag may be superimposed.

In some implementations, a virtual reality headset may be worn by a userto provide an immersive experience from a vantage point such that theuser may experience a virtual representation of what it would be like tobe located at the vantage point within an environment at a specifiedpoint in time. The virtual representation may include a combination ofsimulated imagery, textual data, animations and the like and may bebased on scans, image acquisition and other Sensor inputs, as examples.A virtual representation may therefore include a virtual representationof image data via the visual light spectrum, image data representingimage scans obtained via infrared light spectrum, noise and vibrationreenactment. Although some specific types of exemplary sensor data havebeen described, the descriptions are not meant to be limiting unlessspecifically claimed as a limitation and it is within the scope of thisdisclosure to include a virtual representation based upon other types ofcaptured sensor data may also be included in the AVM virtual realityrepresentation.

It should be noted that although a Smart Device is generally operated bya human Agent, some embodiments of the present disclosure include acontroller, accelerometer, data storage medium, Image Capture Device,such as a CCD capture device and/or an infrared capture device beingavailable in an Agent that is an unmanned vehicle, including for examplean unmanned ground vehicle (“UGV”) such as a unit with wheels or tracksfor mobility and a radio control unit for communication, or an unmannedaerial vehicle (“UAV”) or other automation.

In some embodiments, multiple unmanned vehicles may capture data in asynchronized fashion to add depth to the image capture and/or athree-dimensional and four-dimensional (over time) aspect to thecaptured data. In some implementations, UAV position may be containedwithin a perimeter and the perimeter may have multiple reference pointsto help each UAV (or other unmanned vehicle) determine a position inrelation to static features of a building within which it is operatingand also in relation to other unmanned vehicles. Still other aspectsinclude unmanned vehicles that may not only capture data, but alsofunction to perform a task, such as paint a wall, drill a hole, cutalong a defined path, or other function. As stated throughout thisdisclosure, the captured data may be incorporated into a virtual modelof a space or Structure.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8G, exemplary Wireless Communication Areas(Was) and Radio Target Areas (RTAs) are illustrated. In general, a WCAis an area through which wireless communication may be completed. A sizeof a WCA may be dependent upon a specified modality of wirelesscommunication and an environment through which the wirelesscommunication takes place. In this disclosure (and as illustrated), aWCA may be portrayed in a representative spherical shape; however, in aphysical environment, a shape of a WCA may be amorphous or of changingshape and more resemble a cloud of thinning density around the edges. Ingeneral, an RTA is an area from which an energy-receiving Sensor willreceive energy of a type and bandwidth that may be quantified by theenergy-receiving Sensor. The RTA shape and size may be affected by anenvironment through which the energy must be conveyed and furthereffected by obstructions.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, a side view illustrates a WCA 800 surroundinga Node, such as a Smart Device 802. Energy 803, which is illustrated asrays, is received by one or more energy-receiving Sensors 804 in theSmart Device 802 (energy-receiving Sensors may also be in a SmartReceptacle associated with the Smart Device, though this is notillustrated in FIG. 8A). An exemplary ray 803 proceeds from a position805 within RTA 801 boundary to the energy-receiving Sensor 804.

As illustrated, a portion 801 a of the RTA 801 may flatten out inresponse to a ground plane, wall, partition, or other obstructionencountered. A Node 806 may be located on or within a surface that makesup a relevant obstruction and the Node 806 may appear to be along aperimeter of the RTA 801. Similarly, a Virtual Tag may be associatedwith location coordinates that appear on or within a floor, wall,partition, or other article acting as a radio frequency obstruction andthereby appear to be a part of the obstruction, however, since it isvirtual, the Virtual Tag will not affect the physical properties of theobstruction. Essentially, a Virtual Tag may have location coordinatesthat correspond to anywhere in the physical real-world. In someexamples, a software limit or setting may limit location coordinates ofVirtual Tags to some distance from a base position or a distance from adesignated position, such as a location of a designated Physical Tag,Reference Point Transceiver or other definable position.

In addition to obstructions, a topography of an environment within anRTA 801 may also limit wireless conveyance of energy within an RTA 801to an energy-receiving Sensor 804. Topography artifacts may include, forexample, a terrain, buildings, infrastructure, machinery, shelving orother items and/or other structures that may create impediments to thereceipt of wireless energy.

Energy received 803 into the energy-receiving Sensor 804 may be used tocreate aspects of a user interface that is descriptive of theenvironment within the RTA 801. According to the present invention,environmental aspects, Nodes 806, Tags (both physical Tags and VirtualTags) and the like may be combined with user interactive mechanisms,such as switches or other control devices built into a user interactivedevice and included in a user interactive interface. For example, energylevels received into an energy-receiving Sensor 804 may be combined withlocation coordinates of Physical Tags and/or Virtual Tags and a userinteractive device may be positioned in an interactive user interface ata position correlating with the position coordinates and be surroundedwith a visual indicator or the received energy levels.

In this manner, a single user interface will include a static imagerepresentative of received energy levels at an instance in time; avisual representation of a location(s) of Physical and/or VirtualTag(s), and devices with user interactive functionality. In someembodiments, the devices with user interactive functionality may bepositioned at a location in the user interactive interface correlatingwith the position(s) of the Physical and/or Virtual Tag(s).

This disclosure will discuss RTAs 801 that are frustums of a generallyconical shape, however, RTAs 801 of other volume shapes are within thescope of the invention. For example, if an energy-receiving Sensor 804included a receiving surface that was a shape other than round, or hadmultiple receiving surfaces, each of a round or other shape, the RTA 801associated with such an energy-receiving Sensor 801 may have a shapeother than a frustum of generally conical shape.

Referring now to FIG. 8B, a top-down view of a RTA 801 is depicted. ARTA 801 will include some portion of a WCA 800. As illustrated, the WCA800 includes a space with irregular boundaries encompassing 360 degreesaround the Smart Device 802. Aspects such as topography, strength ofsignals and atmospheric conditions (or other medium through which awireless communication will travel) may affect and/or limit a perimeterof the WCA 800. A location of the RTA 801 may be referenced to determinewhich Tags (Physical and/or Virtual) such as node 806 are includedwithin an interactive user interface. Generally, preferred embodimentsmay only include Tags with location coordinates with the RTA 801 in theinteractive user interface. However, embodiments may include Tagsexternal to the RTA 801 in a particular interactive user interface.

Referring now to FIG. 8C, a side view of a WCA 800 is presented where anenergy-receiving Sensor 804 is capable of quantifying a particular formof energy, such as a particular bandwidth of energy received from a userselected RTA 807. A Smart Device 802 may incorporate or be in logicalcommunication with multiple energy receiving devices 804, each energyreceiving device capable of quantifying a limited energy spectrum in anenvironment defined by the RTA 807 selected by the user.

Some embodiments include a RTA 807 that varies according to a type ofenergy receiving device 804 receiving a corresponding type of energy.For example, an energy-receiving Sensor 804 that receives energy in alower bandwidth may have an RTA 807 that extends a greater distance thanan energy-receiving Sensor 804 that receives energy in a higherbandwidth. Similarly, some energy-receiving Sensors 804 may be effectedby forces outside of the RTA 807, such as a magnetometer which may besensitive to signal interactions around all of the WCA 800, and an RTA807 associated with a magnetometer may accordingly be the same as theWCA 800.

By way of non-limiting example, a RTA 807 for a CCD-type energy receivermay be represented as a frustum with an expansion angle of approximately60 degrees in shape. Accordingly, the RTA 807 subtends only a portion ofthe universal WCA 800.

Referring now to FIG. 8D, a top view of a WCA 800D is illustrated with aRTA 807A comprising a frustum with an expansion angle of approximately60 degrees. A Smart Device 802 with an energy receiver that quantifies aspecified bandwidth of energy from the RTA 807A may generate a userinterface with an image based upon energy quantified from RTA 807A.

In FIG. 8D, the WCA 800D is represented as a spherical area. A WCA 800Dmay be designated that is less than an entire area of possible radiocommunication using a specific designated wireless communicationmodality. For example, WCA 800D may be spherical and stay withinboundaries of a modality based upon a UWB wireless communicationprotocol.

A user interface based upon quantified energy in an RTA 807, 807A, maypresent a representation of energy within the respective RTA 807, 807Aas quantified by an energy-receiving Sensor 804. Energy levels of otherthree-dimensional spaces within the WCA 800 may be quantified by energyreceivers and presented in a user interface by directing energy from aselected three-dimensional space into the energy receivers and therebydefining a different RTA. In this manner, energy levels may bequantified from essentially any area within the WCA 820 380 andrepresented as part of a user interface. Quantified energy levels mayvary based upon a receiving Sensor. For example, a CCD Sensor mayquantify visible light spectrum energy, and a LIDAR receiver a broadspectrum, an infrared receiver may quantify infrared energy levels, andenergy-receiving Sensors. A particular feature present in a particularportion of the electromagnetic spectrum quantified by anenergy-receiving Sensor may have a unique physical shape whichcharacterizes it, and which may be associated with a correspondingvirtual-world aspect and Tag associated with the location.

In some examples, as has been described, quantification of energy levelsassociated with aspects of the physical world may be for one or more of:characterizing an RTA 807, 807A by quantifying energy levels andpatterns existing at an instance in time, determining a location and/ororientation of a Smart Device 802 or other Node, such as node 806; andverifying a location and/or orientation of a Smart Device. In someexamples, energy levels associated with aspects of the physical worldmay be communicated by the Smart Device to a remote controller forfurther processing, and the remote controller may communicateinformation back to the Smart Device or to another user interface.Information communicated from the controller may include, for example,an orientation of physical and/or virtual aspects located within theuniversal RTA in relation to the Smart Device; quantified energyindicating of or more of: a topographical feature, a surfacetemperature, a vibration level, information associated with a VirtualTag, information associated with a physical Tag, sensor data, or otherinformation associated with the RTA 807A.

A view of a Radio Target Area 807 807A may be a relatively small portionof the entire wireless communication area (WCA) that surrounds a SmartDevice. An area of energy to be quantified by a sensor (sometimesreferred to herein as the Radio Target Area) may be displayed surroundedby the WCA 800D.

Referring now to FIG. 8E, an exemplary presentation of a RTA 844superimposed upon a representation of a WCA 841 is illustrated. The WCA841 is illustrated with a perspective view of a spheroid with analignment feature 860 such as a spheroid dividing are, or a line. Ablackened ellipsoid feature is a representation of the RTA 844associated with a particular Smart Device which would be located at acenter of the spheroid WCA 841. If desired, one or more energy receivingdevices associated with or incorporated into a Smart Device may berepositioned or have a changed orientation in space to ultimately scanall of the accessible universal Radio Target Area space.

Referring to FIG. 8F, an illustration of how moving the one or moreenergy receiving devices around in space may alter an area defined asthe RTA 854. The same orientation of the universal WCA 841 may be notedby a same location of the alignment feature 860. Relative movement ofthe ellipsoid feature illustrates a change in an area designated as RTA854.

Referring to FIG. 8G, an illustration of adding Tag locations (which maybe Physical Tags or Virtual Tags) to a mapping of the WCA 841 isprovided. A Tag may be represented in the WCA, for example, as an icon(two- or three-dimensional) positioned in space according to acoordinate system, such as Cartesian coordinates, polar coordinates,spherical coordinates or other mechanism for designating a position.Coordinates may specify one or both of physical real-world Tags andVirtual Tags.

A location of a real-world Tag or Virtual Tag may be in either RTA 861,the WCA 841 or external to both the RTA 861 and the WCA 841. Examples ofTags outside the RTA 861 and within the WCA 841 include Tags 862-866. Anexample of a Tag in the device RTA is Tag 861. A Tag located external toof the WCA 841 and the RTA 861 includes Tag 867.

In some examples, a display on the user's Smart Device may illustrateimage data captured via a CCD included in a Smart Device. Portions ofthe image data captured via a CCD may be removed and replaced with anicon at position correlating to a position in space within the RTA 861.The icon may indicate of a Tag 861 located within the RTA 861, or atleast the direction in the RTA 864 along which the Tag 861 may belocated at an instance in time. In addition, an area of a user interfaceportraying the Icon may user interactive device such that when thedevice is activated, the Smart Device is operative to perform an action.

The actual positions of the Tags in real-world space (or the digitalequivalent in the real-world space) may be stored and maintained in adatabase. Positions of physical Tags may be determined via techniquesbased upon wireless communication and be updated periodically. A periodof update may be contingent upon variables including, user preference,Tag movement, change in environmental conditions, User query or othervariable that may be converted into a programmable command. In anotherexample of some embodiment, an Agent may interact with a user interfaceand understand the presence of Tags that are outside of the RTA 861 andadjust one or both of a position and direction that the Smart Device tocause the Smart Device to be positioned such that the RTA 861encompasses a position of the Tag of interest.

Referring to illustration FIG. 9A, an exemplary apparatus foreffectuating the methods described herein is shown, wherein Smart Device901 has within its Radio Target Area a Structure 921. Smart Device 901may display a user interface 902 based upon data generated by anenergy-receiving Sensor 903 incorporated into the Smart Device oroperative in conjunction with the Smart Device 901. The energy-receivingSensor 903 may produce data representative of an area from which theenergy-receiving Sensor 903 received energy. A user interface 902 may begenerated that is based upon relative values of some or all of the dataproduced by the energy-receiving Sensor 903.

Smart Device 901 may have its position and direction determined usingthe orienteering methods described herein, with reference to ReferencePoint Transceiver 931. The position may be determined relative to a BaseNode, which may operate as an origin in a coordinate system associatedwith Structure 921 and its surroundings. The position-determination stepmay be aided with reference to transmitter 922, which in someembodiments, may be a Reference Point Transceiver. In this example,transmitter 922 is positioned proximate to the Structure 921.

A receiver on Smart Device 901 may be operative to receive a wirelesslogical communication from transmitter 922. This communication may be inone of a variety of modalities, such as Bluetooth, ultra-wideband,radiofrequency, etc. Based upon the signal, Smart Device 901 maytransmit to a server, a database query based upon a determined set ofcoordinates of transmitter 922.

If the database contains an entry comprising, as a data structure, a setof coordinates proximate to the set of coordinates of transmitter 922,then Smart Device display 902 may display icon 912 proximate to thelocation of transmitter 922, as displayed on Smart Device display 902,or otherwise on the virtual representation of the shop 911. In this way,a user of Smart Device 901 may be alerted to the presence of informationassociated with Structure 921 in which the user may be interested.

In some embodiments, icon 912 may be displayed on Smart Device display902 only if Smart Device 901 can transmit appropriate permissions to thedatabase. For example, icon 912 may only display if Smart Device 901 ison a certain Wi-Fi network or if the user of Smart Device 901 has inputthe appropriate credentials. In other embodiments, icon 912 may displayon any Smart Device display 902 (if the Radio Target Area Cone 913includes transmitter 922), but further functionality may be based uponinputting a password (or, in some embodiments, correctly input theanswer to a question).

In some embodiments, the appearance of icon 912 may change based upon anidentity of the user or based upon some other dynamic. For example, ifthe user has a certain UUID, and the database includes a messagespecifically intended for a user with that UUID, then the icon may flashto indicate the presence of a message. This message may be displayedtextually, visually, audibly, or by a hologram. Similarly, the databasemay record each instance in which it is accessed by a query from a SmartDevice. Such a record may include a time stamp. If data related tostructure 921 has changed since the last time stamp, then icon 912 mayturn red (for example) to indicate such a change. In addition, digitalcontent may be appended to any content already in the database, such asadditional alphanumeric annotation, an audio file, an image file, avideo file or a story file.

Activation of an interactive user device encompassing icon 912,additional functionality may be provided to the user of the Smart Device901. For example, selecting icon 912 may display information aboutStructure 921, such as shop hours or discounts. Alternatively,activating the interactive user device associated with icon 912 maygenerate a control panel, which may allow the user to control aspectsrelating to sensors or other electronics within structure 921. Forexample, upon confirmation that Smart Device 901 has the appropriatepermissions, selecting icon 912 may allow the user to turn off thelights within structure 921.

The Smart Device 901 may also display other functional buttons on itsdisplay 902. In some examples, one such function may be to show displaysof the sensor RTA 913 in the context of the universal Radio Target Areasurrounding the user. By activating the functional button, the user maybe presented with a set of options to display the universal Radio TargetArea.

Referring to illustration FIG. 9B, an example of a means of illustratinga RTA 970 is provided. The display screen of the Smart Device 901 maydisplay a number of information components. A similar illustration asFIG. 8G may be included as inset 975. However, a different illustrationof the RTA 970 may be formed by flattening the surface of theillustrated sphere into a flat depiction where each of the surfaceregions may be flattened into a segment 971. The RTA 970 may beillustrated on the flat segments. A Tag or icon 912 may be locatedwithin the device RTA 970 showing Structure 921. The icon 912 may alsobe included in the real time display of a representation of datagenerated by an energy-receiving Sensor. Tags may also be locatedoutside of the RTA 970. An Agent may move around the Smart Device tolocate an RTA that encompasses Tag 974.

Referring to FIG. 9C, item 980, an exemplary display screen 990 forSmart Device 901 that may be displayed when a user activates a Tag at alocation outside the RTA 982 is illustrated. When the user activates theexemplary Tag 981, a menu 985 may display. Amongst the variousinformation such as text, imagery, video content and the like that maybe displayed an identification of the Tag 986, associated textualinformation and data 987 as well as functional buttons 989 may bedisplayed on the user interface and may be used by the user to activateadditional function including new display layers, content integrationand control function such as in a non-limiting sense a control to revertto a previous menu display.

In some examples, a Smart Device may function as a Tag. The Tagfunctionality may include providing location-related information asbroadcasted digital content. In providing such broadcasted digitalcontent, the Smart Device tab may employ numerous forms of securityprotocols for the protection of the information and authorization of itsuse which may include sign-in/password protocols, sharing of encryptionkeys and the like. In similar methods, a central server may providecontent related to a Tag and may manage security protocols and the likewhere a Smart Device acting as a Tag may merely share an identificationphrase that a user could use with applications running or connectingwith the central server could use to be authorized for additionalcontent. Location may be determined by the various means as describedherein including wireless communication with position Nodes by GPS,Cellular, Wi-Fi, Ultrawideband, Bluetooth and the like. If the SmartDevice is operating in a mesh Node, the mesh could communicate withinNodes relative and absolute location information which the Smart Devicemay share as its role as a Tag. In addition to location, other sensordata at the Smart Device such as temperature, vibration, sensor imagery,LiDAR scan imagery, sound sensing.

In addition to real-world data, the Smart Device Tag may also providevirtual content associated with itself and its connected environment.The Smart Device may provide content stored within its memory devicesand may provide dynamically calculated results of processing on contentstored in its memory devices. The virtual content may also correspond toa user interface of the Smart Device Tag that may be used to initiate orauthorize function of the Smart Device including real-world activitiessuch a communication via internet protocol, text, phone, or video.

In some embodiments, an energy-receiving Sensor may receive energyassociated with a LiDAR transmission and/or other functionality involvedin LiDAR scanning which can be used to interrogate the local environmentfor physical shapes. In a Smart Device Tag function, the Smart Devicemay stream its video and scanning data directly or through a servermodel. Some Smart Devices may be configured to operate as a smartsecurity monitoring systems and may provide the video, topographic,audio, and other sensor streams as Tag related content. There may benumerous manners that a Smart Device could function as a Tag in anenvironment.

A Smart Device with either a single- or multiple-sensor system may alsohave a LiDAR scanning capability or other three-dimensional scanningcapability. The Smart Device may utilize a number of systems to refineand improve its accuracy in determining the location that it is at. Inan example, a Smart Device may utilize a GPS or cellular system to getan approximate location of the device. In a next step, a user mayinitiate the Smart Device to take a series of image and scanning dataacquisitions of its environment. For example, the user may move thephone by hand to different directions while maintaining their feet in afixed location. The phone may use one of the orientation methods as havebeen discussed to determine its orientation as it is moved to differentvantage points. The Smart Device may either process those images andcompare against a database in its memory, or it may communicate the datato a server to do the comparison. With an approximate location, theorientation information, and the streams of video and/or topographicinformation, a calculation may be performed to match theimage/topographic information to a more exact positional location. Inalternative examples, the device may use the image and/or topographicinformation to determine the orientation of the device itself.

In some examples, the Smart Device may act as a receiver of one ormultiple types of wireless energy input. For example, the acquisition ofdata based upon a visual light spectrum (approximately 380 to 700 nmwavelength) may be modelled as spatially characterized electromagneticenergy. Electromagnetic energy in the visible band may enter a focusinglens and be focused up an array of devices. The devices may beCMOS-active pixel sensors, CMOS back-illuminated sensors, or CCDs, asnon-limiting examples, to receive the energy and convert it intospatially arrayed pixel data.

In some examples, the Smart Device may have an energy-receiving Sensorincorporated or attached which may quantify energy levels forfrequencies outside the visible spectrum. Any optics employed in suchsensors may be different from the previously discussed CMOS and CCDSensors since some of those energy receiving devices may have filters orlenses that absorb wavelengths outside of the visible spectrum. Sensorswith infrared capabilities may have specialized optics and may usedifferent materials for the CMOS and CCD elements—such as indium galliumarsenide-based sensors for wavelengths in the regime of 0.7-2.5 μm.

Alternatively, entirely different sensing elements, such as bolometers,which sense temperature differences of the incoming radiation, may beemployed for longer wavelengths in the regime of 7-14 μm and may includefilters that remove other wavelengths. A display of an infrared Sensor,which senses incoming energy in the infrared band, may be rendered on atypical visual display, but the colors of such displays may have nodirect physical meaning. Instead, a color scheme may be instituted torepresent different infrared wavelengths with different visible colors.Alternatively, the colors may be used to represent different intensitiesof infrared energy received across bands of infrared wavelengths.

In some examples, a Smart Device may both project and receive energy.For example, a Smart Device may scan the topography of its surroundingsby use of LiDAR. In LiDAR a laser may be used to emit energy into theenvironment. The energy may be emitted as pulses or continuous trains,and the light source may be scanned across the environment. Lightemitted from the Smart Device may proceed into the environment until itis absorbed or reflected. When it is reflected and subsequently receivedat the Sensor, the transit time can be converted to distancemeasurements of the environment. Many different wavelengths of light maybe used to scan an environment, but numerous factors may favor certainchoices such as invisibility to human/animal eyes, safety, absorption bythe airspace surrounding the user and the like. Atmospheric gases mayabsorb significant amounts of infrared transmissions at certainfrequencies; therefore, for LiDAR to be effective in the infraredspectral region, certain bands of emitted frequencies may be favored. Astandard LiDAR system may operate at a band from 900-1100 nm infraredwavelength or at a band centered at approximately 1550 nm. As discussedpreviously, select optic components and materials may be useful forthese wavelengths and the detectors may have improved function based onmaterials such as “black” silicon, germanium, indium phosphide, galliumarsenide, and indium gallium arsenide as exemplary detector materials.

In an example, a laser light source may be rastered across a dimensionof forward-looking positions of a Smart Device, which may be representedby a conic section or Radio Target Area in front of the Smart Device. Asthe light is raster across the surface it can address, it may be pulsedon or off. As the light travels out along a collimated path, it mayinteract with a surface and a portion of the intensity may be reflectedbackwards.

A resulting reflected ray may come back to the Smart Device and bereceived by a Sensor in the device. Since the emitted light source maybe orders of magnitude more intense than the surroundings, reflectedlight may dominate a background intensity and the signal detected may becompared with the time of the leading edge of the laser pulse. Therepeated acquisition of the timing signals in the various directions canbe used to form a point cloud that represents the distance to reflectivefeatures from the Smart Device.

As mentioned previously sound may be reflected off of surfaces and thetransit time may be used to characterize a distance between a focusedultrasonic transducer and a reflective surface. In similar manners,points or lines of focused sound emissions may be pulsed at theenvironment and a sensor or array of sensors may detect the reflectedsignals and feed the result to a controller which may calculate pointcloud representation or other or topographic line representations of themeasured surface topography. In some examples, ultrasonic focused andscanned soundwaves in the frequency range of hundreds of megahertz mayresult in small, focused sources whose reflections may be detected bymagnetic or piezoelectric sound transducers as non-limiting examples.

A Smart Device may have numerous different types of energy-collectiondevices which may characterize data values with spatial relevance. Asmentioned before, infrared imaging may be performed on some SmartDevices, and a user may desire to view a spatial representation of theinfrared imaging that represents the data as it may appear if the user'seyes could perceive the energy. In some examples, data values for thewireless energy sensing of infrared energy may be assigned color valuesand displayed in an image format. For examples, low levels of infraredenergy, which may relate to colder temperatures in the imaged regions,may be assigned blue color values, and high levels of infrared energy,which may relate to warmer temperatures, may be assigned red colorvalues. Other color assignments to data values may be used. A legend forthe conversion of the color values to the data values may be provided.

In some examples, the data descriptive of spatially descriptive energylevels quantified by an energy-receiving Sensor data may be portrayed ina user interface. In some user interfaces, representations based uponspatially representative energy levels of different wavelengths may beaggregated or otherwise combined in one or more related user interfaces.Such a combination may allow a user to understand the regional nature ofvarious quantified energy.

In some examples, a user interface may allow for display of thepositional location image points. In some examples, a location of apixel element chosen by a user may be converted to a real-world locationwithin the RTA which may be represented in Cartesian coordinates (X,Y,Z)or in other coordinate systems such as polar coordinate systemsinvolving angles and distances as discussed previously. In someexamples, topographic data obtained by scanning an area with a RTA maybe used quantify topography within the RTA. A user interface based uponsuch quantified energy levels may include virtual presentations of thequantified energy levels from different perspectives and may allow forcoordinate grids (Cartesian or other) to coordinate placement of facetsof a user interface based upon combinations of energy level data, Taglocations and perspective relevance.

In some examples, distinct structures within the RTA may be highlightedand assigned positional coordinates. In some examples, this may occur byimage processing directly, in other examples a user interface may allowfor a user to pick items/regions of interest in a RTA presentation.

In other examples, real and virtual Tags may exist within the RTA. Aphysical Tag may include a position Node, another Smart Device, or anydevice with communication capability that can communicate with either aposition Node or with the Smart Device of the user directly. Suchphysical Tags may be located in numerous manners. In some examples, thephysical Tag may have a direct determination of its location eitherbecause it is stationary and has been programmed with its location orbecause it has the capability of determining its own position with thevarious methods as have been described herein. In other examples, aphysical Tag may be able to communicate with Nodes such as ReferencePoint Transceivers and a location may be determined based upon anexchange of data, such as timing values, in the wireless communications.A Node may also be functional to determine, store and communicate alocation of other Tags. The Smart Device of the user may gain access tothe locations of Tags, either because they are publicly available orbecause the user has established rights digitally to obtain theinformation from some or all of these physical Tags.

There may also be virtual Tags that are associated with positionalcoordinates. The distinction of these Tags over physical Tags is thatthere may be no physical presence to the virtual Tag. It may be adigital or virtual-world entity that has an association with areal-world positional coordinate. Except for this distinction, a virtualTag and a real-world Tag may behave similarly with respect to theirassociation with a physical coordinate.

In these examples, an interactive user interface based upon energylevels and Tags located with a RTA may have icons associated with theplacement of Tags. The user interface may include an icon positionaldesignation and a graphic to indicate the presence of a Tag. It may beapparent that, in some cases, multiple Tags may lay along a singledirection from a given Smart Device location and RTA, and thus multipleicons may be included within a user interface in close proximity. Theuser interface may indicate multiple Tag icons by color changes,blinking or other indicators. As a RTA is changed, Tags along a sameperspective may resolve into different directions for Tags withdifferent positional coordinates.

The Tag icon may indicate to the user a digital functionality associatedwith a real-world or virtual Tag. For example, the icon may allow a userto choose the functionality of the icon by moving a cursor over the iconand making a keystroke or mouse click or for touch screens by pressingthe display location of the Tag icon. The choosing of the Tag icon mayactivate user interface dialogs to allow the user to control subsequentfunctionality. In cases of superimposed Tag icons on a same pixellocation in a user display, a first functionality may allow the user tochoose one of the multiple Tag icons to interact with. In some examples,a Tag icon may be displayed with an associated ID/name and a user mayselect the icon with voice commands rather than physically selecting theicon as described previously. Displays of these Tags may follow similarprotocols as have been discussed in reference to FIGS. 9A-9D.

Referring now to FIG. 10A, a method for generating an augmented-realityRadio Target Area for a Smart Device is shown. At step 1001, wirelessenergy of a first wavelength is received into a wireless receiver. Inexemplary embodiments, this step may include receiving image data basedon visible light into a sensor of the Smart Device. The wireless energymay be dispersed over a one-, two-, or three-dimensional space in adefined physical area, and may be received into a one-, two-, orthree-dimensional array in the receiver. The wireless energy may takethe form of electromagnetic radiation, such as light in thehuman-visible light spectrum (generally having a wavelength between 380nm-740 nm), ultraviolet light (generally having a wavelength between10.0 nm-400 nm), or infrared light (generally having a wavelengthbetween 740 nm-2.00 mm) as examples. The set of wireless energyavailable to the wireless receiver is the Smart Device's Radio TargetArea.

The wireless receiver may be a Smart Device sensor, including a CMOSactive pixel sensor, a CMOS back illuminated sensors, CCD, or a LIDARapparatus, including a solid-state/MEMS-based LIDAR. The wirelessreceiver may comprise an array or other plurality of other wirelessreceivers. The wireless receiver may be operative to receive thewireless energy into an array of an appropriate dimension for subsequentdisplay (possibly after processing) on the Smart Device. For example,where the wireless receiver is a Sensor, the Sensor may be operative totranslate the wireless energy into a two-dimensional array.

At step 1002, a pattern of digital values is generated based uponreceipt of wireless energy into the wireless receiver. This pattern ofdigital values may be based on one or more qualities of the receivedwireless energy, including its intensity, spatial dispersion,wavelength, or angle of arrival. The pattern may be placed into anappropriate array. For example, if the display of the Smart Device is atwo-dimensional display, then the pattern of digital values may comprisea two-dimensional representation of the image data received. In someembodiments, the pattern of digital values may be based on an aggregatedset of values from an array of receivers. For example, if the basis ofthe digital values is the intensity of the wireless energy received intothe receiver, then the digital value assigned to a given entry in thearray may be based on a weighted average of intensity of wireless energyreceived at a plurality of the receivers in the array. Optionally, atstep 1003, the wireless receiver may receive the wireless energy as ananalog signal (for example, if the wireless receiver is ablack-and-white sensor or an unfiltered CCD) and convert the analogsignal to digital values through filtration or other analog-to-digitalconversion. The set of digital values within the Radio Target Area isthe Digital Radio Target Area.

With the Smart Device wireless receiver's Radio Target Area determined,the Smart Device's position should be determined as well, along with thepositions of any items of interest in a given space. Collectively, theSmart Device and the item of interest may comprise wireless Nodes.Accordingly, at step 1004, coordinates representative of a wireless Nodemay be determined relative to a base Node. These coordinates may bedetermined in any appropriate coordinate system (such as Cartesian,polar, spherical polar, or cylindrical polar) and may be determined viaRTLS or the orienteering-triangulation methods with various wavelengthsor modalities, such as ultra-wideband, Bluetooth, etc. Additionally, thecoordinates may be determined using an angle of arrival or angle ofdeparture of a signal to or from the base Node, along with the distancefrom the base Node. By way of non-limiting example, this could produce adataset that correlates the coordinates of three elements with theidentities of those elements: {(0,0,0), BaseNode; (1,1,1), SmartDevice;(2,2,2), ItemOfInterest}. While this example may be used throughout thefollowing discussion, it is understood to be non-limiting, as a givenspace may include a plurality of items of interest. Note that, in someembodiments, the Smart Device itself may become a dynamic database entrywith a continuously (or periodically) updating set of coordinates. Thismay be useful in allowing a plurality of Smart Devices engaged with thesystem at the same time to interact with one another.

At step 1005, the position of the Base Node is determined relative tothe defined physical area. In exemplary embodiments, this may includeestablishing the Base Node as an origin in the coordinate system anddetermining vectors from the Base Node to boundaries and items ofinterest (i.e., the distance from the Base Node and the direction fromthe Base Node to the boundaries and items of interest). In someexamples, the Base Node may have an established reference relative to aglobal coordinate system established.

At step 1006, a Target Area is generated within a controller of theSmart Device. The Target Area may be the set of coordinates (relative tothe Base Node) within the Radio Target Area of the wireless receiver.The Target Area may be limited by physical boundaries of the givenspace, such as walls, floors, ceilings, occlusions, etc. The Target Areamay also be limited by distances that various types of signals maytravel. For example, a sensor of audio signals may not be able topractically pickup signals over a background noise level that originatemore than 1000 feet from a user position, purely as an example. In sucha case, the Target Area for such signal types may be limited to thatdimension.

At step 1007, respective positions of one or more wireless Nodes withinthe Target Area are determined. These positions may be determinedrelative to the physical Target Area or the Radio Target Area. Thedetermination may be made with reference to the dataset discussed atstep 1005, or it may be made dynamically based upon one or more BaseNodes and/or the Radio Target Area. Moreover, the determination mayadditionally be based on receipt of a wireless signal into the SmartDevice from the wireless Node. This signal may indicate a position usingthe orienteering methods described herein.

At step 1008, a user interface may be generated on the Smart Devicebased upon the pattern of digital values generated at step 1002. Theuser interface may comprise a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixelcomprises a visible color based upon the pattern of digital valuesgenerated at step 1002. For example, if the digital values were basedupon receipt of visible light into the wireless receiver (e.g., asensor), then the display may reflect a reasonably accurate colorphotograph of the Radio Target Area of the wireless receiver. If thedigital values were based upon an intensity of received light from, forexample, LIDAR, then the display may reflect a scan of the Radio TargetArea. In some embodiments, the pixel may include an intensity of energyreceived into the receiver. In this way, aspects of the Radio TargetArea characterized by an intensity of energy may be emphasized. Forexample, this may produce a LIDAR relief of an area or a heatmap of anarea.

At step 1009, an icon may be generated in the user interface. Preferablythe icon will be placed at a position relative to data quantifyingreceived energy levels. In some embodiments, the icon location in a userinterface will be indicative of a position of a Tag (Virtual orPhysical). This position may be quantified via positional coordinates,such as Cartesian Coordinates, Polar Coordinates, Spherical Coordinatesand the like. The icon may be based upon an input from a user, storeddata, quantified environmental conditions or other criteria related toan aspect of the Radio Target Area.

For example, an icon may indicate information about an Item of Interestlocated at a given set of coordinates within the Radio Target Area orDigital Radio Target Area. In another embodiment, the user may indicateon the display a position in which the user wishes to place an icon andadd information about an Item of Interest (thus creating a new entry inthe database, which may be populated with the coordinates of theindicated position). Moreover, the icon may change colors based upon thepattern of digital values. The icon may be overlaid on top of thedisplay. The icon may resemble the letter “i”, a question mark, athumbnail, or any other suitable image from a library. In someembodiments, the icon may change depending on one or more attributes ofits corresponding database entry. For example, if the icon located at(4,4,4) relates to a restaurant menu, then the icon may resemble theletter “i” or a thumbnail of a menu. On the other hand, if this databaseentry is modified so that the corresponding database entry is a message,then the icon may update to a picture of an envelope.

In some embodiments, the icon-generation step may be based upon aninquiry to a database that uses the Digital Radio Target Area as aninput. For example, upon generation of the Digital Radio Target Area, anassociated set of coordinates in one or more dimensions may begenerated. This may then be submitted to a database. An associateddisplay may be as illustrated in FIG. 9A. In some embodiments, theicon-generation step may be based upon an inquiry to a database thatuses the user's position coordinates as an input. In these embodiments,both the Digital Radio Target Area based on a RTA as well as theuniversal Radio Target Area may be included in an inquiry submitted tothe database. An associated display may be as illustrated in FIG. 9C. Insome examples, the user may have an option to limit or filter the typesof database entries that may be queried for, such as in a non-limitingsense, the existence of real-world Tags, virtual Tags, sensor datavalues and streams from a particular class of sensors and the like.

Continuing with the example from step 1004, the Digital Radio TargetArea may comprise the set of coordinates: ([1.5,10], [1.5,10],[1.5,10]). In this example, the database may return information aboutthe Item of Interest, but not about the Base Node. The Digital RadioTarget Area may update when the Smart Device position changes, or byuser input, the Digital Radio Target Area may remain static after acertain instance in time.

Continuing with FIG. 10B, at step 1010, the icon may be positioned inthe user interface at a given position based upon coordinatesrepresentative of the position of the wireless Node or Tag in the TargetArea. This may comprise a selection of a multitude of pixels related tothe position of the wireless Node or Tag and changing those pixels fromthe digital values determined at step 1002 to a second set of pixels toindicate the presence of an icon. In some embodiments, the icon may bedynamically updated based upon movement of the Smart Device (and,accordingly, the wireless receiver). In some embodiments, the icon maybe permanently associated with a set of coordinates. In suchembodiments, the icon may be generated whenever a Smart Device withappropriate permissions includes in its Radio Target Area the set ofcoordinates of Nodes or Tags associated with the icon.

At step 1011, user-interactive functionality may be associated with thepixels comprising the icon. This may allow the user to “select” the iconby means of an input device (e.g., mouse, touchpad, keyboard),touchscreen, digital input, etc. Upon selection, the icon may beoperative to interact with the user in one or more ways, including:displaying a message intended for the user (by text, audio, video,hologram, etc.); requesting credentials from the user to verifypermissions (e.g., a password), displaying information about an itemassociated with the icon, prompting the user to update information aboutan item associated with the icon, etc. The user-interactivefunctionality may display static information (e.g., dimensions of theitem), display dynamic information (e.g., an alarm state or sensorinformation relating to the item; for example, if the item is arefrigerator, internal temperature may be displayed), or produce acontrol panel that allows the user to issue control commands (e.g.,remotely operating an automated apparatus by resetting an alarm state,taking remedial action based upon a sensor state as described herein,etc.) or to issue menu control commands such as to invoke a differentuser interface or screen of a user interface.

This may be useful in geospatial applications, or in procedurallygenerated activities. For example, a first user may generate apositional designation on a user interactive device, such as, forexample an augmented-reality display to leave a narrative, icon or otherinput associated with the first use. Additionally, the same or anotheruser may log positional coordinates and upload an image that could bedisplayed submitting a database query including those coordinates. Entryof the coordinates and essential credentials may provide access to thecontent associated with the positional coordinates.

At step 1012, the preceding steps may be integrated by generating adisplay comprising the user interface, the icon, and at least some ofthe associated user-interactive functionality. In embodiments, in whicha plurality of Smart Devices are themselves part of the database, thismay allow various users to send messages, images. etc. to each other.

At step 1013, detection of movement of the Smart device may cause abranch back to step 1005. Based upon that movement of the Smart Device,a defined physical area from which wireless energy is received (i.e.,the Radio Target Area based upon the Target Area) may be changed. Themovement may be detected using input from wireless communications,magnetic field sensors, an accelerometer, feature-recognition software,or other similar apparatus and algorithms. In other examples, theposition of the Smart Device may be dynamically obtained using any ofthe techniques of position determination, such as triangulation withreference nodes. Here, too, a change of position detected in this mannermay cause a branch back to step 1005. The Target Area may be based uponthe position of the Base Node, the relative positions of the wirelessNodes, and the Smart Device.

Referring now to FIG. 11, an exemplary database structure usable inconjunction with the present disclosure is shown. In this non-limitingexample, the database has five sets of information: coordinates 1101associated with an action, permissions 1102 associated with the action,the type 1103 of action, attributes 1104 for the action, and notes 1105.The example shown in FIG. 11 may suppose the following: theaugmented-reality system is deployed in an enclosed space, definable bya coordinate system set relative to a Base Node having an origin point(0,0,0); the enclosed space spans, in that coordinate system, ([0, 10],[0, 10], [0, 10]) (in some embodiments, each coordinate may include analphanumeric number, digital number, hexadecimal number or otherquantifiable value); and the Radio Target Area is ([1, 10], [1, 10],[1.10]).

The bolded entries in the database shown in FIG. 1I represent thedatabase responses to the query given by the Radio Target Area of theSmart Device; i.e., all entries having a Coordinate value within theRadio Target Area. In some embodiments, the database may sort throughall coordinates within the Radio Target Area and then return any entriesfor which the Smart Device has appropriate permissions. In otherembodiments, the database may sort through all entries for which theSmart Device has appropriate permissions and then return any entrieswith coordinates within the Radio Target Area. The latter approach maybe beneficial in circumstances in which there are numerous databaseentries with varying permissions; for example, if a database has10,000,000 entries, but a given user might only have access to five ofthose entries, sorting by permissions first may be more beneficial.

The ActionType variable may include any action for which interactivitywith an icon may be desirable. In FIG. 11, the ActionType variablesshown are Information, Message, Action, and Directions. Each of theserepresents functionalities within the scope of this disclosure. Forexample. Information may relate to information that the Smart Deviceuser may find helpful. Continuing with the shop example from FIG. 9A,Information may include store hours, discounts, reviews, etc. Similarly,Message may be a message to the general public (e.g., an announcement),or a message tailored to a specific user. In the latter case,permissions may operate to ensure that only the specific user (or set ofusers) may access the Message.

Action may relate to any action that a sensor, electronic device, orother apparatus connected to the database may take. For example, Actionmay include changing a temperature, measuring a temperature, turning offlights, activating an emergency sprinkler system, opening a door, etc.In some embodiments, prior to taking the Action, a password may berequested as part of the permission check.

Directions may show a user how to navigate (using, in exemplaryembodiments, orienteering methods) from the current position to adesired position. For example, upon scanning an entry on a map, virtualarrows may be generated to guide the user to a chosen store.

The ActionAttributes may have attributes based on the ActionType. Forexample, if the ActionType is Information or Message, then theActionAttributes may be a text string or a stored audiovisual filecontaining the message. Similarly, if the ActionType requires a sensoror other electronic device to take an Action, then the ActionAttributesmay include a command or subroutine to effect such an Action. In theexample shown here, the ActionType Directions comprises anActionAttribute that includes a command to the Smart Device (i.e., showdirections in the form of green arrows).

Referring to FIG. 12, an illustration of alternative methods for displayof information relating to RTA is provided. At the beginning of theprocess, a system of components which may include a smart device with auser of the smart device may be established. Amongst the variouscomponents a Home Position may be established for all the components atstep 1201. The system may proceed by establishing and initiatingtransceiving of data and information at step 1202.

In some examples, the user may be prompted to choose a desiredcoordinate system for the display at step 1203. In other examples, auser interface of the system may have a setpoint function which the usermay invoke to gain access to user settable parameters which may includethe type of coordinate system to use, such as for example Cartesian orspherical coordinates.

In still further examples, the system may decide to default to aparticular coordinate system depending on the nature of the type of dataits positional reference devices may be obtaining or providing.

At step 1204, if the coordinate system was chosen as Cartesiancoordinates, the system may utilize triangulation amongst multiplereference point transceivers. Alternatively, at step 1205 if thecoordinate system was chosen as polar coordinates, the system mayutilize positioning systems that utilize angles and distances involvedin transceiving and location. In either event, at step 1206, theposition of a Sensor attached to the smart device of the user may bedetermined. In some examples, the system may have multiple and redundantlocation system. A combination of such position determinations mayresult in superior accuracy of an aggregated position result.Accordingly, at optional step 1207, a wireless position determinationmay be performed with the smart device to establish a verification ofthe position of the Smart Device and the Sensor attached. Referring nowto step 1208, a direction that the sensor is facing in may bedetermined. Although there may be a number of different manners ofdetermining orientation as have been described herein, in an example,the orientation may be determined based upon wireless transmissionand/or wireless verification.

Referring now to step 1209, an energy-receiving Sensor included in theSmart Device or in logical communication with the Smart Device may beused to quantify energy levels perceivable at the position and in thedirection of the Smart Device. The resulting quantification may dependon aspects of the Sensor device, but the resulting data will quantify acharacteristic for the RTA.

In some embodiments, an optional step 1210 may be performed by anelement of the system such as the smart device or a server incommunication with the Smart Device. The element of the system maycompare one or more of position information, orientation information andthe image data itself to calculate an estimate of whether the RTA anglehas changed for the sensing element.

In general, at step 1211, the RTA of the Sensor device used to capturethe image in step 1209 may be quantified. In an optional step 1212,coordinates relating to the instant RTA of the image may be established.In some examples, this may relate to a range of three-dimensionalcoordinates that are addressed by the RTA of the Sensor element. Ingeneral, at step 1213, the system may look up, or in some casesgenerate, location coordinates for Tags that are determined to be withinthe quantified RTA. In some database systems that the system may haveaccess to, real-world or virtual-world tags may be tracked in acoordinate system with a certain origin.

If the current origin established at step 1201 is offset from aparticular database related origin, then one or both the coordinatesystem values may be converted to each other to align their respectiveorigins. At step 1214, the Tags in an aligned coordinate system may havetheir positions compared to the current RTA and a selection for the setof Tags that are within the RTA may be made.

In some alternative examples, a display of all Tags that are authorizedfor access to the user regardless of whether they are in the RTA may bemade using associated aligned coordinates as discussed in reference tostep 1213.

Referring now to step 1215, in an example, the Smart Device of the usermay be used to generate and display a user interface to the user basedupon the captured image and the associated tag icons within the RTA.These associated Tag icons may have at least the functionality as hasbeen discussed in reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a Smart Device 1301 is illustrated within awireless communication area (WCA) 1302. The extent of the particular WCA1302 may be defined according to a select bandwidth and/or a particularmodality of the wireless communication the Smart Device 1301 uses totransmit and receive information.

For example, bandwidths may include those associated with UWB, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, ANT, ultrasonic, infrared and cellular modalities ofcommunication. In general, unless otherwise constrained by physicalmodification such as the use of a directional antenna, or the presenceof radio frequency interference from a physical object (such as objectswith significant metallic content; objects with high water content;electrical fields; etc.), a WCA 1302 may include spherical area(s)emanating from one or more transceivers and/or transceiver antennasoperated by the Smart Device 1301.

As discussed extensively herein, and in patent applications referencedby this application, the location of the Smart Device may be determinedbased upon wireless communication to and/or from the Smart Device 1301;and described via a coordinate system, such as via generation ofCartesian coordinates, or other coordinates such as: polar coordinates,spherical coordinates, and cylindrical coordinates. Modalities ofwireless communications that may be referenced to generate locationcoordinates may include one or more of: RTT (round trip time), time offlight, RSSI (received signal strength indicator); angle of arrival,angle of departure, and other methods, equipment and modalities as havebeen described herein.

With the location of the Smart Device 1301 determined, a location of theWCA 1302 may be extrapolated based upon the location of the Smart Deviceand a range or transceiving distance the Smart Device may be capable of.

According to the present invention, a portion of the WCA 1302 may beselected as a radio target area (RTA) 1312 from which the Smart Device1301 may receive specific bandwidths of electromagnetic radiation. Inpreferred embodiments, the RTA 1312 may include a frustum expandingoutward in a conical shape from one or more energy receivers 1309included in the Smart Device 1301. The frustum shaped RTA 1312 mayoverlap with a portion of the generally spherically shaped WCA 1302.Other shapes for a radio target area 1302 are also within the scope ofthis specification.

In some embodiments, a shape of the RTA 1312 may be based upon receivingcapabilities of the one or more energy-receiving Sensors 1309incorporated into or in logical communication with the Smart Device. Forexample, an energy-receiving Sensors 1309 with a charge-coupled device(CCD) or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) receiver mayhave a single plane receiving surface and be best matched with a frustumof a generally pyramidal or conical shape. Whereas an energy receiver1309 with multiple receiving surfaces (e.g., with multiple CCD and/orCMOS devices) may be arranged to enable a more complex shaped RTA 1312.

In some preferred embodiments, a direction of interest 1311 mayintersect the RTA 1312. As discussed herein, the direction of interest1312 may be represented by a ray or vector 1311. In addition, thedirection of interest may be represented as a direction of interestarea, such as a frustum defined by multiple rays or vectors 1311, 1311A,and 1311B. In various embodiments, the direction of interest 1311 areamay encompass the RTA 1312 or be a subset of the RTA 1312.

A direction of interest may be determined for example via the methodsand devices described herein and in referenced patent applications andmay be associated with a direction based upon a ray or vector indicativeof a direction of interest 1311, a direction based upon a magnetic fieldsensor, an accelerometer, a light beam, con-elation between two Tags orNodes, Agent gestures, or other Smart Device recognized apparatus and/ormethod.

One or more transceivers 1303-1305 (typically included within a SmartDevice, Tag, or Node) may be located within an area defined by the RTA1312. According to the present disclosure, a position of the transceiver1303-1305 may be determined and a user interactive mechanism may begenerated at a position of the transceiver 1303-1305 within a graphicaluser interface emulating aspects of the RTA 1312 on the Smart Device1301 or another user interactive interface screen (not shown, andperhaps at a site remote to the RTA 1312).

According to the present disclosure, some portion of the RTA 1312 (whichmay include the entirety of the RTA 1312) may be portrayed on an Agentinterface 1310, including, in some embodiments, a human-readablegraphical user interface (GUI). The interface 1310 may include arepresentation 1313 of a particular level of electromagnetic energyreceived via the energy receiver 1309 and associated with a particulararea of the RTA 1312. For example, energy levels of an infraredwavelength that has emanated from or reflected off of an item in the WTA1312 and received via an infrared receiver in the Smart Device 1301 maybe used to generate a heat map type interface display. Similarly, energythat has emanated from or reflected off of an item in the RTA 1312 inthe 400 nm to 700 nm range and been received via a charge-coupled/orCMOS image sensing device in the Smart Device 1301 may be portrayed as ahuman visible image of items in the area included in the RTA 1312.

Other embodiments may include a point cloud derived from electromagneticenergy bouncing off of or emanating from items included in the RTA 1312or a series of polygons generated based upon a LIDAR receiver in theSmart Device 1301. An Agent interface 1310 may be presented in amodality understandable to an Agent type. For example, an interfacepresented to a UAV or UGV may include a digital pattern and an interfacepresented to a human Agent may include multiple pixels or voxelsgenerating a pattern visible to a human being.

The wireless location methods and apparatus described herein may bedeployed in conjunction with one or more Transceivers 1303-1305 or Tagsand/or Nodes 1306-1308 located with the WCA 1302 to generate locationcoordinates for the one or more Transceivers 1303-1305 or Tags and/orNodes 1306-1308. A controller or other device operating a processor maydetermine which one or more Transceivers 1303-1305 or Tags and/or Nodes1306-1308 located within the three-dimensional space included in the RTA1312 based upon a) the location of the one or more Transceivers1303-1305 or Tags and/or Nodes 1306-1308; and b) the location of areaincluded in the RTA 1312.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, in some embodiments, someenergy levels may not be represented in the Agent interface 1310. Forexample, in some embodiments, energy levels reflected off of aparticular item may not be included in the Agent interface 1310. Otherembodiments may only represent energy levels that have reflected off ofselected items within the RTA 1312 thereby emphasizing the presence ofthe selected items and ignoring the presence of other items within theRTA 1312.

As described above, some portion of the RTA 1312 may be portrayed on anAgent interface 1310, including, in some embodiments, a human readablegraphical user interface (GUI), as a point cloud derived fromelectromagnetic energy bouncing off of or emanating from items includedin the RTA 1312 or a series of polygons generated based upon a LIDARreceiver in the Smart Device 1301. An example of such a representationis shown in FIG. 14. In this example, the GUI includes a human visualimage 1401 of an RTA 1400 overlaid with a series of polygons 1402generated based upon a LIDAR receiver in the Smart Device. The LIDARsensor illuminates the RTA 1400 with laser light and then measures thereflection with a sensor. The resulting polygons 1402 representdifferences in laser return times, which provides a topographicalrepresentation of objects in the RTA 1400.

In this example, Virtual Tags 1403 and 1404 are created by the SmartDevice by methods described herein and icons may be present on the GUIto identify the position of the Virtual Tags 1403 and 1404. The VirtualTags 1403 and 1404 may, for example, represent various locations ofinterest in the RTA, such as an object of interest (1403) or an exit orentrance (1404). The icons associated with the Virtual Tags 1403 and1404 may be engaged or “clicked” or otherwise activated to be madeoperational; for the Smart Device to receive (e.g., retrieved from adatabase) additional information associated with the object or locationof interest.

For example, if the object of interest is a statue, clicking on the iconassociated with the Virtual Tag 1403 associated therewith may provideinformation regarding the statue, such as the history, origin, and thelike. If, for example, the Virtual Tag 1404 is associated with an exitof the room, clicking the Virtual Tag may provide information on what ispresent in the adjacent room, or where the Smart Device is in relationto exiting the building, or any other desired information.

In some embodiments, mathematical data associated with a LIDARrendering, such as parameters of triangles formed by various LIDARpoints 1405-1406 within an associated RTA may be stored and a relativeposition of a smart device with the RTA 1400 may be determined basedupon the recognition of similarities of the LIDAR point 1405-1406patterns. A resolution of laser scanning involved in generation of databased upon LIDAR techniques may influence a number of date points withina selected RTA, but in general, pattern recognition and determination ofan orientation of a smart device based upon LIDAR data may be much moreefficient, than, for example image data-based pattern recognition. Inaddition, the LIDAR based patterns may be formed in a “fingerprint” ofan RTA, wherein it would be very rare, if not impossible to replicatethe LIDAR point patterns at two disparate locations. Therefore,recognition of a point pattern may be used to identity a location of aparticular RTA.

Glossary

“Agent” as used herein refers to a person or automation capable ofsupporting a Smart Device at a geospatial location relative to a GroundPlane.

“Augmented Virtual Model” (sometimes referred to herein as “AVM”): asused herein is a digital representation of a real property parcelincluding one or more three-dimensional representations of physicalstructures suitable for use and As Built data captured descriptive ofthe real property parcel. An Augmented Virtual Model includes As BuiltFeatures of the structure and may include improvements and featurescontained within a Processing Facility.

“Bluetooth” as used herein means the Wireless Personal Area Network(WPAN) standards managed and maintained by Bluetooth SIG. Unlessotherwise specifically limited to a subset of all Bluetooth standards,the Bluetooth will encompass all Bluetooth standards (e.g., Bluetooth4.0; 5.0; 5.1 and BLE versions).

“Digital Content” as used herein refers to any artifact that may bequantified in digital form, by way of non-limiting example, digitalcontent may include, one or more of: alphanumeric text; audio files;image data; video data; digital stories and media.

“Energy-Receiving Sensor” as used herein refers to a device capable ofreceiving energy from a Radio Target Area and quantifying the receivedenergy as a digital value.

“Ground Plane” as used herein refers to horizontal plane from which adirection of interest may be projected.

“Image Capture Device” or “Scanner” as used herein refers to apparatusfor capturing digital or analog image data, an Image capture device maybe one or both of: a two-dimensional sensor (sometimes referred to as“2D”) or a three-dimensional sensor (sometimes referred to as “3D”). Insome examples an Image Capture Device includes a charge-coupled device(“CCD”) sensor. “Intelligent Automation” as used herein refers to alogical processing by a device, system, machine or equipment item (suchas data gathering, analysis, artificial intelligence, and functionaloperation) and communication capabilities.

“MultiModal” as used herein refers to the ability of a device tocommunication using multiple protocols and/or bandwidths. Examples ofmultimodal may include being capable of communication using two to moreof: Ultra-Wideband, Bluetooth; Bluetooth Low Energy; Wi-Fi; Wi-Fi RT;GPS; ultrasonic; infrared protocols and/or mediums.

“Node” as used herein means a device including at least a processor, adigital storage and a wireless transceiver.

“Physical Tag” as used here shall mean a physical device with atransceiver capable of wireless communication sufficient to determine ageospatial position of the device. The Physical Tag may also beassociated with a data set that is not contingent upon the geospatiallocation of the physical device.

“Radio Target Area” an area from which an energy-receiving Sensor willreceive energy of a type and bandwidth that may be quantified by theenergy-receiving Sensor.

“Ray” as used herein refers to a straight line including a startingpoint and extending indefinitely in a direction.

“Sensor” as used herein refers to one or more of a solid state,electro-mechanical, and mechanical device capable of transducing aphysical condition or property into an analogue or digitalrepresentation and/or metric.

“Smart Device” as used herein includes an electronic device including,or in logical communication with, a processor and digital storage andcapable of executing logical commands.

“Smart Receptacle” as used herein includes a case or other receiver of asmart device with components capable of receiving wireless transmissionsfrom multiple wireless positional reference transceivers. In someembodiments, the smart receptacle will include a wireless transmitterand/or a physical connector for creating an electrical path for carryingone or both of electrical power and logic signals between an associatedSmart Device and the Smart Receptacle.

“Structure” as used herein refers to a manmade assembly of partsconnected in an ordered way. Examples of a Structure in this disclosureinclude a building; a sub-assembly of a building; a bridge, a roadway, atrain track, a train trestle, an aqueduct; a tunnel a dam, and aretainer berm.

“Tag” as used herein refers to digital content and access rightsassociated with a geospatial position

“Transceive” as used herein refers to an act of transmitting andreceiving data.

“Transceiver” as used herein refers to an electronic device capable ofone or both of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data.

“Vector” as used herein refers to a magnitude and a direction as may berepresented and/or modeled by a directed line segment with a length thatrepresents the magnitude and an orientation in space that represents thedirection.

“Virtual Tag” as used here shall mean digital content associated with alocation identified via positional coordinates.

“Wireless Communication Area” (sometimes referred to as “WCA”) as usedherein means an area through which wireless communication may becompleted. A size of a WCA may be dependent upon a specified modality ofwireless communication and an environment through which the wirelesscommunication takes place. In discussion (and as illustrated), a WCA maybe portrayed as being spherical in shape, however in a physicalenvironment a shape of a WCA may be amorphous or of changing shape andmore resemble a cloud of thinning density around the edges.

Data analysis techniques, such as a Fast Fourier Transform; structuredqueries; and unstructured queries may yield relevant patterninformation.

A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described.While this specification contains many specific implementation details,there should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anydisclosures or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures specific to particular embodiments of the present disclosure.While embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein by wayof example using several illustrative drawings, those skilled in the artwill recognize the present disclosure is not limited to the embodimentsor drawings described. It should be understood the drawings and thedetailed description thereto are not intended to limit the presentdisclosure to the form disclosed, but to the contrary, the presentdisclosure is to cover all modification, equivalents and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the presentdisclosure as defined by the appended claims.

The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and arenot meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or theclaims. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in apermissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather thanthe mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words“include”. “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limitedto. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used,where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.

The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-endedexpressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. Forexample, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at leastone of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B,or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. Assuch, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can beused interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted the terms“comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the contextof separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in asingle embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described inthe context of a single embodiment can also be implemented incombination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitablesub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above asacting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, oneor more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excisedfrom the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

Similarly, while method steps may be depicted in the drawings in aparticular order, this should not be understood as requiring that suchoperations be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequentialorder, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achievedesirable results.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the contextof separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in asingle embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described inthe context of a single embodiment can also be implemented incombination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitablesub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above asacting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, oneor more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excisedfrom the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodimentsdescribed above should not be understood as requiring such separation inall embodiments, and it should be understood that the described programcomponents and systems can generally be integrated together in a singlesoftware product or packaged into multiple software products.

Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described.Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In somecases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a differentorder and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processesdepicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require theparticular order show, or sequential order, to achieve desirableresults. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallelprocessing may be advantageous. Nevertheless, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the claimed disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for interacting with a tag in a wirelesscommunication area, the method comprising the steps of: a) ascertaininga first physical reference mark fixedly located at a first positionwithin a space, and a first distance between a Smart Device and thefirst physical reference mark; b) ascertaining a second physicalreference mark fixedly located at a second position within a space, anda second distance between the Smart Device and the second physicalreference mark; c) ascertaining a third physical reference mark fixedlylocated at a third position within a space, and a third distance betweenthe Smart Device and the third physical reference mark; d) generatingpositional coordinates for the Smart Device based upon the firstdistance, the second distance, and the third distance; e) establish aradio target area for an energy receiving sensor; f) receiving energyinto the energy receiving sensor from within the radio target area; g)generating a digital representation of the energy received into theenergy receiving sensor at an instance in time; h) generating positionalcoordinates for the tag; i) associating digital content with thepositional coordinates for the tag; j) generating a user interactiveinterface comprising the digital representation of the energy receivedinto the energy receiving sensor and a dynamic portion representative ofthe positional coordinates for the tag; k) receiving a user input intothe dynamic portion of the user interactive interface; and l) based uponthe user input received into the dynamic portion of the user interactiveinterface, displaying the digital content associated with the positionalcoordinates for the tag.
 2. The method of claim 1, additionallycomprising the steps of: receiving multiple disparate energy wavelengthsinto the energy receiving sensor, the disparate energy wavelengthsreceived from different geospatial locations; and indicating thedisparate energy wavelengths in the user interactive interface.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a virtual tag associatedwith a location identified via the positional coordinates.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a physical tag comprising atransceiver capable of first wireless communication with a firstreference point transceiver, a second communication with a secondreference point transceiver, and a third wireless communication with athird reference point transceiver, and the method additionallycomprising the steps of: transceiving a wireless communication betweenthe tag and each of the first reference point transceiver, the secondreference point transceiver, and the third reference point transceiver;and generating the positional coordinates for the tag based upon thewireless communication between the tag and the first reference pointtransceiver, the second reference point transceiver, and the thirdreference point transceiver.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein thewireless communication between the tag and at least one of the firstreference point transceiver, the second reference point transceiver, andthe third reference point transceiver comprises transceiving using anUltra Wideband modality, and the method additionally comprises the stepof generating positional coordinates for the tag based upon the wirelesscommunication between the tag and the first reference point transceiver,the second reference point transceiver, and the third reference pointtransceiver.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy receiversensor comprises a receiving surface comprising a charge-coupled device,and the method additionally comprises the step of receiving energy intothe charge-coupled device.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the energyreceiver comprises the receiving surface comprising the charge-coupleddevice, and the method additionally comprises the step of receivingenergy into the charge-coupled device.
 8. The method of claim 1,additionally comprising the step of operating an electronic sensor toindicate a direction of interest.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein theelectronic directional device comprises a magnetic force detectiondevice.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic directionaldevice comprises an accelerometer.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinthe positional coordinates comprise Cartesian Coordinates.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the positional coordinates comprise at leastone of: an angle of arrival; and an angle of departure.
 13. The methodof claim 1, additionally comprising the step of designating accessrights to digital content based upon an identifier of the Smart Device.14. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of includingin the dynamic portion of the user interactive interface an iconindicative of the digital content associated with the tag.
 15. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the radio target area comprises a position ofthe energy receiving sensor and an area providing electromagnetic energyto the energy receiving sensor.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein theradio target area further comprises a frustum of a generally conicalshape with the energy receiving sensor located at a relatively narrowend of the frustum.
 17. The method of claim 16, additionally comprisingthe steps of changing a direction of the Smart Device; and redefining aradio target area based upon the change in direction of the SmartDevice.
 18. The method of claim 16 additionally comprising the steps oflocating the tag with a sensor; with the sensor, quantifying a conditionpresent in a structure as digital data; and including the digital dataquantifying the condition in the structure in the digital content.
 19. Amethod for interacting with a tag in a wireless communication area, themethod comprising the steps of: a) determining a distance between aSmart Device supported by an Agent and multiple physical referencemarks; b) generating positional coordinates for the Smart Device basedupon the respective distances between the Smart Device and the multiplephysical reference marks; c) establish a radio target area for an energyreceiving sensor; d) receiving energy into the energy receiving sensorfrom the radio target area; e) generating a digital representation ofthe energy received into the energy receiving sensor; f) generatingpositional coordinates for the tag, the tag comprising digital contentand access rights to the digital content; g) determining the tag islocated within the radio target area based upon the positionalcoordinates for the tag; h) generating a first user interactiveinterface comprising static portions based upon the digitalrepresentation of the energy received into the energy receiving sensor;i) generating a dynamic portion of the first user interactive interfacebased upon the positional coordinates for the tag; j) receiving a userinput into the dynamic portion of the first user interactive interface;and k) based upon the user input received into the dynamic portion ofthe first user interactive interface, including the digital content in asecond user interactive interface.
 20. The method of claim 19 whereinthe energy received into the energy receiving sensor comprises awavelength between 400 nanometers and 700 nanometers.